Homemade Cocktail Kit

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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.