I basically looked through my liquor cabinet for something that was refreshing yet also fall/holiday appropriate. I love vodka, wayyyyy more than whiskey and when it comes to fall libations most have whiskey in them. I needed a yummy vodka cocktail. This Orange Pomegranate Mint Smash is what I came up with and let me tell you… it was fucking good. I will be making this on thanksgiving day. Hoping we can get our nana drunk :)

Ingredients:

1 cup Pomegranate seeds (if using them to create homemade pomegranate juice)

1/4 cup Pomegranate juice (if you aren’t using muddled pomegranate seeds)

1 tsp Agave syrup

3 oz Titos vodka

2 Navel orange slices

2 oz Orange liqueur

20 Fresh mint leaves (10 for the cocktail and 10 for garnishes)

2 oz Club soda

A shaker

Rocks glasses

Crushed ice

Directions:

Fill a shaker with a cup of pomegranate seeds and 10 mint leaves. Using a muddler, muddle the mint and seeds together by smashing them until they have broken up and created a mint and pomagranate juice. The seeds still in it are fine. It doesn’t create ton of juice so don’t freak out, it should create about 1/4 a cup.

If you are using pomegranate juice, you will just need to muddle your mint leaves.

Finally, once you have your juice, whichever way you do it, pour in the pomegranate juice, agave syrup, vodka, mint leaves, orange liqueur and a few cubes of ice into a shaker. shake, shake, shake. For about 15 seconds. Put a slice of navel orange in the glass, up again the glass to you can see the slice. Then, fill the glass with ice Pour the mixture through the strainer on the shaker, over the top the ice filled rocks glass. Top off the cocktail with the club soda. Sprinkle pomegranate seeds and a few mint leaves for garnish! Sip and enjoy!