Pomegranate Mojito – Without the Alcohol
I’ve talked before about how my journey to sobriety has challenged me to make interesting drinks. Watermelon “Gin”ger Tonic and Liquorless Orange Liqueur are some of my previous attempts. But what I really miss is my absolute favorite drink – the mojito. I came up with this pomegranate mojito to scratch that itch, with nary a drop of rum in the batch.
This is such a simple recipe. As such, it’s important to keep the ingredients pure and high quality. Get the best limes you can find and the freshest mint. Choose your favorite sparkling water as a mixer, and grab the high quality pomegranate juice. You’re saving so much money by avoiding alcohol; you deserve it.
Not a bartender? Never fear. The only “fancy bartender trick” you’ll be doing is muddling the mint, sugar, and lime juice together. “Muddling” is just a term that means crushing with a specialized rounded tool (I used the pestle from my mortar and pestle set). This releases the oils from the mint, while helping the sugar dissolve into the lime juice. The flavors get to know each other, and your pomegranate mojito goes from “good” to “great.” Everyone wins!
This drink gives all of the summer vibes with punches of bright fruity lime, rich pomegranate juice that makes you pucker your lips, and that fresh fragrance of mint that brings to mind new starts and clean slates. Everything is possible with a pomegranate mojito in hand. Doubly so when there’s no alcohol to dull your senses.
Are you trying to lower your alcohol intake? Stay tuned for more alcohol-free drinks as the weather warms up and the pandemic dies down (fingers crossed). I’ll need to stay on my toes to keep my drinks interesting in case of gatherings, or just sitting on the patio. Let me know if you have any suggestions of what I should make next! Until then, here’s to good drinking, great eating, and even better living.
Pomegranate Mojito (without the alcohol)
Equipment
- pestle (or other blunt tool)
Ingredients
- 1 tsp white sugar
- juice from half a lime
- 1 handful fresh mint
- 3 oz pomegranate juice
- seltzer or sparkling water of your choice
- pomegranate arils (for serving)
Instructions
- In a low glass, add the mint, sugar, and lime juice. Muddle to bruise the mint and dissolve the sugar into the juice.
- Add the pomegranate juice. Top with seltzer or sparkling water, add pomegranate arils, stir, and serve. Enjoy!