(Note: this post was originally published on November 11, 2020. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)
Are you planning some holiday meals this season? If so, please don't forget to add a festive cocktail! A beautiful, seasonal, special cocktail brings the whole meal together and makes for something your guests will remember. My choice this holiday season? This oh-so-gorgeous (and easy!!) Spiced Pomegranate Daiquiri.
If you're not very familiar with rum, you may be surprised to see this called a daiquiri. However, the frozen, sugary, neon-colored abomination served at many American chain restaurants and resorts has almost nothing to do with a classic daiquiri. The original drink, which came from Cuba, is simple, elegant, strong, and tart; it contains just rum (usually 2-2.5 oz), lime juice (usually 1 oz), and simple syrup (usually 0.5 oz).
I've taken the classic daiquiri and have given it a holiday-appropriate spin. I use a combination of gold and spiced rums, which adds the most festive, cozy warming spices. I've replaced the traditional lime juice with orange (I like clementine best!), since orange so often makes an appearance in holiday meals. Instead of simple syrup, pomegranate juice adds sweetness as well as gorgeous color and fruity taste, and pays homage to a very special seasonal ingredient.
I'm very excited to announce that I'm now partnering with Koloa Rum! They distill the most incredible line of rums on Kaua'i and I'm so thrilled to now be a Koloa Rumbassador. Given that Dave and I spend time every winter on Kaua'i, we're intimately familiar with Koloa and have absolutely loved their products for many years.
Koloa Rum holds a very special place in our hearts because of its Kaua'i origin. We've been to the tasting room an uncountable number of times and it's our go-to while we're there. In particular, we always bring Koloa Rum on our beach picnics, and have it on our wedding anniversary and Christmas. Our anniversary tradition is Koloa Rum Mai Tais and my favorite Tropical Guacamole on the beach at sunset.
Working with Koloa Rum is a dream for me, and I'm so excited to share all sorts of fun recipes coming up!
Don't let the elegant look of this cocktail intimidate you- it's actually incredibly easy to make! If you pre-juice some clementines, you can whip up a bunch of these in a matter of minutes. All you have to do is measure, shake, and pour.
And if you really want to make things efficient, you could do this punch-bowl style and make a big batch ahead of time. Daiquiris are more traditionally served straight up in a chilled glass, but punch-bowl style on the rocks would work fine. In that case though, I'd add a bit more orange juice or maybe even some ginger beer, since the daiquiri is meant to be a small, strong drink. Regardless of how you do it, it's hard to go wrong with these seasonal flavors.
Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
I'm a very firm believer that any special get-together requires a signature cocktail! Last year for the holiday seasonI did this Thanksgiving Eve Dark & Stormy, which also so happens to be made with Koloa Rum (and is so beautiful!). This year it's daiquiri time! Many people probably don't associate rum with fall meals, but I think the flavors work perfectly and make so much sense.
Wouldn't this make your holiday meal feel so special? A drink like this is so much more creative and artistic than opening a bottle of wine. Enjoy, and happy holidays!
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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Disclosure: Koloa Rum is a long-term partner and I receive free product. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
This daiquiri riff features spiced rum, sweet citrus, and tart pomegranate for the most festive, seasonal cocktail around. It's elegant enough for a special holiday meal but comes together in just a few minutes.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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