Easy Pomegranate Mocktail

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This easy pomegranate mocktail combines sweet-tart pomegranate juice with lime and ginger beer for a delicious non alcoholic drink. It’s perfect for holiday entertaining or any celebration!

As a big fan of pomegranate cocktails, lately I’ve been leaning towards non-alcoholic drinks so I decided to create a pomegranate mocktail, too. Here’s what I found in my recipe testing: a tiny splash of apple cider vinegar transforms simple fruit juice into something that tastes like a craft cocktail!

This pomegranate mocktail has become my go-to: I actually enjoy it just as much as a cocktail. The pomegranate juice makes a bright red color and sweet-tart flavor, and apple cider vinegar adds a complexity that makes it taste intriguing. Topped with spicy ginger beer and a salt rim and it’s perfect for holidays like as a Thanksgiving or Christmas mocktail, or anytime you’re craving a fun drink.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This pomegranate mocktail recipe was actually created by my husband Alex: he was the one with the genius apple cider vinegar idea! It really makes you say, “Wow, what’s in this?” I love that he had the idea to add a salt rim too, reminiscent of a pomegranate margarita. If I’ve learned one thing about great cocktail recipes, it’s that the presentation is key!

Here are a few notes to know about each of the ingredients in this drink:

Pomegranate Juice: Use 100% pomegranate juice for the best flavor. The bottled juice from brands like POM Wonderful works great here. Avoid juice cocktails or blends with added sugar.
Ginger Beer: This is important! Ginger beer has a stronger, spicier ginger flavor and is what gives this mocktail its sophisticated edge. Avoid ginger ale, as it’s sweeter and less punchy. I recommend brands like Fever-Tree or Q Ginger Beer.
Fresh Lime Juice: Always use fresh lime juice in cocktails and mocktails. The bottled stuff just doesn’t have the same brightness.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Any apple cider vinegar works here. I use the raw, unfiltered kind with the “mother” because that’s what I keep in my pantry. Just don’t substitute other types of vinegar like white vinegar or wine vinegar because the flavor is too harsh.
Flaky Sea Salt: Maldon or any flaky sea salt works beautifully for rimming the glass. The large, flat crystals stick well and look pretty on the glass.
Pomegranate Arils: These are the jewel-like seeds inside a pomegranate. See my guide on how to cut a pomegranate to seed your own, or the seeds are sold pre-packaged at many grocery stores.

How to Make This Pomegranate Mocktail

Here are a few tips on how to make this pomegranate mocktail (or you can jump to the recipe below):

Prepare the glass by running a lime wedge around a low ball glass rim to moisten it, then dip it into your flaky sea salt. This step makes such a difference in the final presentation.
Fill the glass with ice. I often use clear ice for the best visual appeal, but in this mocktail I used normal ice from my ice maker and it still looks great!
Stir everything in a cocktail shaker or measuring cup, combine the pomegranate juice, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar. You can also just stir it together in a glass.
Add the ginger beer. Always add carbonated ingredients last to preserve the bubbles.
Add your garnishes. A lime wheel and a sprinkle of pomegranate arils make this mocktail look stunning.

Variations and Substitutions To Try

You can change up this mocktail in so many ways. Here are a few ideas:

Cranberry Pomegranate: Use half pomegranate juice and half cranberry juice for a variation perfect for Thanksgiving. This works well with my sparkling cranberry mocktail.

Herb-Infused: Muddle a few fresh mint or rosemary leaves before mixing the juice.

Sugar Rim Instead: Rim the glass with coarse sugar mixed with a tiny pinch of salt.

Make It a Cocktail: If you want to turn the same drink into a cocktail, add 1½ ounces of vodka, gin, or tequila. It becomes similar to my pomegranate martini, pomegranate gin fizz, or pomegranate margarita. See my 7 great pomegranate cocktails for more.

Pomegranate mocktail with lime and salt rim

When To Serve This Drink

I created this pomegranate mocktail for Thanksgiving, but it works for so many different occasions:

Holiday Gatherings: Serve this at Thanksgiving dinner with some of my 60 best Thanksgiving recipes, or in a spread of Thanksgiving appetizers. The color makes it perfect for Christmas appetizers, too.
Brunch: This makes an excellent alcohol-free option for brunch alongside virgin piña coladas and virgin strawberry daiquiris.
Dinner Parties or Girl’s Night: Mix up a pitcher version for book clubs or game nights. Everyone loves having a fancy drink, even when keeping it alcohol-free.
Dry January: This is one of my favorite mocktail recipes to lean on during Dry January or any time you’re taking a break from alcohol.

Make-Ahead Tips

This mocktail is best served fresh because of the ginger beer. However, you can prep the pomegranate juice, lime juice and apple cider vinegar in a pitcher, then pour it when serving and top with ginger beer (see the recipe below for quantities).

You can also prep your garnishes in advance. Cut lime wheels and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. If using fresh pomegranate seeds, cut and seed the pomegranate 3 days ahead and store them in a sealed container.

Dietary Notes

This pomegranate mocktail is naturally vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, and alcohol-free. It’s also relatively low in calories compared to many cocktails.

I hope you love this pomegranate mocktail as much as I do! Let me know in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this in a pitcher?

Absolutely! Mix the pomegranate juice, lime juice, and apple cider vinegar in a pitcher, then let guests add ice and top their own glasses with ginger beer. See the recipe below for quantities.

What’s the best glass to serve this in?

I love serving this in a rocks glass or a stemless wine glass. Both show off the beautiful color. But you can use any glass you like!

Can kids drink this?

Yes! This is completely alcohol-free. I’d skip the salt rim for young kids.

Does this taste like vinegar?

Not at all! The amount of apple cider vinegar is so small that it just adds complexity and depth without any vinegary taste. It’s the secret ingredient that people can’t quite identify but makes them say, “Wow, what’s in this?”