Pera Punch

pomegranate - ginger ale - rum

• 1 part rum

• 2 parts pomegranate juice

• 2 parts ginger ale

• squeeze of fresh lime juice

stir all ingredients together in a rocks glass

notes:

This is the first in a series of quarantinis from Istanbul highlighting local ingredients. Pomegranates are ubiquitous here, from salads to mezes to desserts, and of course when in season, the fresh juice directly from street vendors. The fresh juice is especially tart and astringent so in this cocktail I round off the edges with the sweetness and bubbles of the ginger ale, the ginger and rum also warm it up a bit. These proportions go a bit lighter on the rum, making it a nice afternoon sipper, and something you could easily scale up to a pitcher.