The cocktails for days two and three were mixed and consumed on the same night because they both called for sparkling wine.  If I’m going to pop a cork I might as well kill two birds with one stone.  Can you tell I’m writing this after having consumed aforementioned cocktails?  Well, cocktail two.  I’m currently drinking straight sparkly because cocktail three was disgusting.  Now you’re intrigued.  You should be.

Day two of the Twelve Intoxicating Days of Christmas involves an interesting cocktail.  I’m not sure I should lead with the ingredient list as it may be a turn-off.  So, let’s lead with a photo:

Attractive, yes?  You want one of those drinks, right?  Of course you do!  Two questions for you, though:  1.  Do you like sparkling wine?  I’m assuming the answer is, “Yes.”  Okay.  Good.  2.  Do you like gin?  Have I lost you?  Gin and sparkling wine?!  Am I kidding you?  Nope.  I am not.  It’s a little cocktail called a Pomegranate French 75.

Now, those of you who are cocktail connoisseurs may be familiar with the general concept of this drink.  A French 75 is a mixture of lemon juice, gin, simple syrup and sparkling wine.  Care to guess about the addition made to my cocktail?  Take a wild one.

I, though a lover of gin, have not heard of a French 75.  After this experience I think I’m okay with that.

It was not a horrible cocktail, but not one that makes me salivate for a second.  My recommendation would be to try this in the safety and silence of your own home before rolling it out to a crowd.  Because, as we know, people either feel two ways about gin:  love it.  Hate it.  There doesn’t seem to be an in-between.  I love it.  And, yet, this cocktail didn’t do a lot for me.  But, I absolutely can’t wait to begin infusing a bottle of gin with bay, clementine and ginger.  Yes, I will report back.

Let’s get to this.

The recipe I found for Pomegranite French 75 called for pure simple syrup with a few pomegranate seeds floated on top.  I elected to use pomegranate simple syrup because I made some yesterday for another up-and-coming cocktail.  I also discovered that pomegranate seeds don’t float.  I’m sure there’s some sort of food photography secret to that, but I couldn’t figure it out.  Oh, well, they looked pretty in the bottom of the glass.  Like sunken treasure.

Pomegrante French 75

1 1/2 oz gin
1/2 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz pomegranate simple syrup
sparkling wine

Pomegranate simple syrup:
1/4 c water
1/4 c granulated sugar
1/2 c pom seeds
Heat water and sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Add pom seeds.  Cool.  Toss it all in a blender, then strain.  Discard the solids, keep the syrup.

Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.  Top with sparkling wine.  Add a few pom seeds for a festive touch.  This recipe makes one cocktail.