Don’t you think everyone deserves a fun holiday drink, even without the alcohol? This rosemary pomegranate mocktail is super festive and honestly looks like a fancy cocktail you’d order at a Christmas bar. But it’s actually so easy to make. Like… only 3 ingredients, easy.

It’s bubbly, refreshing, a little tart, and the perfect drink for winter celebrations, cozy nights in, or anytime you want something pretty to sip on.

Here’s how to make this easy rosemary pomegranate mocktail at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy and cost-effective!
• Easily make this for a large group beforehand.
• It’s delicious and non-alcoholic, so anyone can drink it.
• Super simple steps with simple ingredients.
• Great inspiration for other holiday drinks!

Do Rosemary and Pomegranate Go Together?

Yes!! Pomegranates perfectly complement herbs and spices because they’re sweet and tart. The rosemary adds a nice pine-like flavor, leaning minty, woody, and lemony. Fruits, herbs, and spices famously pair well because they complement each other in a contrasting way.

You have a nice, sweet fruit, and when you add some spice or herbs, you get a mix of aromas. Herbs often have an herbaceous flavor and aroma, which adds depth to a fruity scent. It often brings out other flavors you wouldn’t otherwise taste. They also help cut the sweetness and acidity.

How to Make Rosemary Syrup

The best way to add rosemary flavor to this mocktail is with rosemary simple syrup. You unlock the most rosemary flavor by infusing it in liquid, either water, oil, milk, etc. Swirling a rosemary sprig in soda isn’t going to add much rosemary flavor.

Fresh rosemary sprigs work the best in syrup! You can also use dried rosemary, but it’s a little trickier to work with, as it burns easily and is more concentrated.

For simple syrup, use a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water, then heat it until the sugar dissolves. Add the rosemary sprigs and let it simmer until it’s aromatic. Infuse the sprigs in the syrup longer for a stronger flavor. I like to store the syrup with the rosemary sprigs so it infuses for even longer!

Rosemary Pomegranate Mocktail: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• A small or medium-sized pot (for syrup)
• Mason jar
• A Ziploc bag or cups that fit into each other

Ingredients:

• ½ tbsp rosemary syrup
• ⅓ cup pomegranate juice
• 1 cup plain or citrus sparkling water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 scoop pomegranate arils
• 1 sprig rosemary

How to Make a Rosemary Pomegranate Mocktail

1. Make Rosemary Syrup. Add equal parts sugar and water to a pot, then simmer on medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely. Then, add 1-2 rosemary sprigs and infuse for 5 – 7 minutes until aromatic.
2. Make or Buy Pomegranate Juice. If you have pomegranates, remove the arils and add them to a Ziploc bag. Using your hands, a rolling pin, or the bottom of a cup, smash the arils to get the juice. One cup of arils gives roughly ½ cup of juice.
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice, pomegranate juice, and rosemary syrup to a glass. Top with sparkling water and garnish with pomegranate arils and a rosemary sprig.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Mocktail

• Garnish Well: The mocktail looks plain without garnishes since it’s just one color. I love adding a sprig of rosemary for contrast and the arils for texture.
• Use Fresh Juice: I find store-bought juice too sugary. Fresh juice is less sugary and tastes fresher! Plus, smashing pomegranate arils is so fun.
• Make it in Bulk: This drink is easy to make in bulk by adding rosemary syrup to pomegranate juice ahead of time. Then, add you have to do is add the juice to sparkling water and garnish. Easy peasy!
• Add a Little Salt: If this drink leans sweet, add a little dash of salt to give it a refreshing flavor. Similar to an electrolyte drink!
• Make Cute Ice Cubes: You can add some pomegranate arils and rosemary leaves to an ice cube tray to make themed cubes. You can make smaller cubes or one large cube.
• Clap the rosemary before adding it as a garnish; it releases the aroma and makes the drink smell incredible.
• Serve in a Cocktail Glass: Use your fancy cocktail glasses! It’ll make it look luxe.

Mocktail Variations

• Swap Rosemary: No rosemary? You can swap it with thyme or sage for a similar herby profile. You could even use pine needles if you have them!
• Different Fruit: You can swap pomegranate for any other sweet and tart fruit for a slightly different flavor. Cranberries, cherries, raspberries, and plums are close substitutes. And they’re still festive!
• Bubbly or Still: You can swap the bubbles for water or mineral water for a still version.
• Make It a Cocktail: Spike this mocktail with a clear-based alcohol to make this into a pomegranate cocktail! I recommend vodka or gin!
• Different Sweeteners: Instead of sugar, you could use agave, honey, or maple syrup to make syrup. Just infuse the rosemary in it before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this a cocktail?

Yes! You can make this rosemary pomegranate mocktail alcoholic with a shot of clear alcohol like vodka or gin. You could also use prosecco or champagne to eliminate an ingredient.

Can I use Sprite?

Yes, Sprite is a great sweet alternative to sparkling water. It makes it sweeter and definitely more flavor-soda-like. If you want more control over sweetness, stick to sparkling water.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Make the base (juice + rosemary syrup/infusion) ahead of time, then add sparkling water right before serving so it stays bubbly. Perfect for large parties!

Can kids drink this?

Yep! It’s just fruit juice, rosemary syrup, and plain sparkling water, so it’s kid-friendly. Plus, it’s way less sweet than soda, so they won’t have the same sugar rush.

What can I use instead of rosemary?
Mint, basil, sage, and thyme all taste amazing with pomegranate.

Other Mocktail Recipes to Try

If you love this rosemary pomegranate spritzer, then I’m sure you’re a fan of other sparkling drinks as well! I love a good spritz, so here are some other mocktail or ade recipes to try:

• Kiwi Ade
• Sparkling Hibiscus Limeade
• Matcha Soda
• Strawberry Shirley Temple