Check out the rest of our gourmet holiday gift ideas here.
Ingredients:
1 bottle bourbon
Aromatic Bitters (recipe follows)
Pomegranate Molasses (recipe follows)
1 orange (for both juice and peel)
1 small bottle pomegranate juice
Method:
To make the drink: Carve a twist from the orange and set aside. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 2 oz. bourbon, a dash of bitters, 1/4 oz. pomegranate molasses, 1/2 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice, and 1/2 ounce pomegranate juice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add orange twist. Drink up!
Aromatic Bitters
Ingredients:
1, 1-qt. jar with tight-fitting lid
1 750-ml. bottle Everclear (or other grain alcohol)
2 cinnamon sticks
pieces of rind cut from 1 lemon (take care not to include white pith)
1, 1-inch piece peeled ginger
6 whole cloves
1 tsp. whole black peppercorns
40 drops grapefruit seed extract
Method: Combine all ingredients in jar, then screw on lid and let steep for 14 days. Shake every other day (starting on day one). On Day 14, pour mixture through a coffee filter nestled in a fine-mesh strainer. Store in the bottles of your choice and keep in a cool, dark place.
Pomegranate Molasses
Ingredients:
4 cups pomegranate juice
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Method: Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook for an addition 45 to 50 minutes, until mixture is reduced to 1+1/2 cups. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before transferring to a sealed glass jar and refrigerating.