Pomegranate Orange Sour in a coupe with orange twist

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Comisario Añejo: Pomegranate Orange Sour.

Pomegranate gives a richly coloured sour with enough tartness to sit beside generous savoury food.

Ingredients

Serves

2 ozComisario Añejo Tequilathe bottle we pour
1 ozPomegranate juice30 ml
¾ ozFresh lemon juice23 ml
¼ ozOrange liqueur8 ml
¼ ozSimple syrup8 ml
Orange twistfor garnish
Fresh iceas needed

Method

For simple syrup, dissolve equal volumes of white sugar and hot water, then cool fully before measuring. A small batch made with ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup water is plenty for several serves.
before you mix
Prepare the garnish: orange twist. Chill a coupe while you measure the ingredients.
the garnish and the glass
Add the measured base and all still liquid ingredients to a shaker. Keep any soda, tonic or ginger beer separate for the finish.
the build
Fill the shaker with fresh ice, seal and shake firmly for 10–15 seconds until the outside feels cold.
the shake
Double-strain through a cocktail strainer and a fine sieve into the chilled empty glass.
the strain
Add the prepared garnish and serve promptly. Express any citrus twist gently over the glass before adding it.
the serve

"Pomegranate gives a richly coloured sour with enough tartness to sit beside generous savoury food."Flight notes · Creenagh Flynn

From the bar

A table with room for conversation

Some drinks are most appealing when served with a small plate and no elaborate announcement. Put the ingredients within reach, prepare a fresh garnish and make the first glass with care. The colour, aroma and temperature can tell the story for you. This recipe is built for that kind of hospitality: a clear idea in the glass, familiar preparation and a finish that makes the featured bottle worth noticing.

Pomegranate gives a richly coloured sour with enough tartness to sit beside generous savoury food. For this version, Comisario Añejo Tequila provides the base. The recipe below keeps the preparation clear so you can concentrate on the aroma, the texture and the way the ingredients meet. Serve it in a coupe and let orange twist introduce its character before the first sip.

The bottle behind the recipe

Comisario Añejo is the centre of this recipe, with the other ingredients chosen to create contrast and room around it. An añejo cocktail can be polished and expressive without requiring an elaborate bar setup. A well-chilled glass, accurately measured sweetness and a restrained garnish will do much of the work. Keep the first sip small enough to notice how the fruit or aromatic accent meets the base, then consider the finish as well as the first impression.

Finding the balance

Fresh juice, fruit puree and bottled mixers vary in sweetness and acidity. Prepare the first drink using the quantities below, then taste the completed mixture. If it needs more brightness, add a teaspoon of the listed citrus. If it feels too sharp and the recipe includes a sweetener, add that in teaspoon increments. Keep the base measure fixed. This gives you a repeatable starting point while allowing for the real ingredients on your counter.

The technique that makes the difference

Shaking creates both chill and dilution, so the ice is part of the recipe even though it is not counted as an ingredient measure. Use firm, fresh cubes and leave enough room in the shaker for the liquid to move. A fine strainer is particularly useful when working with fruit puree, because it removes small pieces that can make the drink feel uneven. Once strained, serve promptly. A cocktail served up has no fresh ice to maintain its temperature, so the chilled glass matters as much as the shake.

Bring it to the table

Serve this cocktail with roast lamb with pomegranate. Pomegranate gives a richly coloured sour with enough tartness to sit beside generous savoury food. Keep the food in small, easy-to-share portions so that the glass and the plate can be enjoyed together. Put a little of the garnish ingredient on the table where it also belongs in the food, but avoid making every element taste identical. The most useful pairing is one that gives the drink a new detail after a bite, with the food and the cocktail retaining their own character.

Make it your house recipe

To make the recipe again, begin with the same Comisario Añejo Tequila and the same ingredient measures, then change one small detail at a time. That makes the result easier to learn from and repeat. Keep a note of the fruit or syrup you used if it made a particular difference. Once the balance feels right, the drink becomes a useful addition to your own table, whether you are preparing one glass or setting out ingredients for a few guests.

Make it tonight

Made it?

Fifty Casa Stellar points, and the bar remembers it.