Pomegranate Basil Sparkler

Happy Monday y'all!

Those of you who know me know that I am a sucker for a good glass of bubbly, so I can't think of a better way to kick off my week than by sharing my first ever (yay!) "Pop Liz Clink" cocktail recipe with all of you. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me use the #poplizclink hashtag, and now you know what it's all about - I'll occasionally be posting my favorite sparkling cocktail recipes on this blog.

Today I'm making a Pomegranate Basil Sparkler. It's super simple and very pretty - the best kind of cocktail - and it's the perfect drink to transition you from summer into fall. I chose pomegranate as it's in season right now and because it adds a deep pop of color. If pomegranate isn't your thing, you can always swap it out for another fruit. The other main flavor here is basil - my personal favorite herb. Try to get the freshest possible as it makes a huge difference in the flavor profile. I grow mine for maximum freshness.

Just kidding. I buy my basil at Whole Foods. Which is basically the same thing as growing it, right?!?

First, cut an orange and a lemon in half, and remove the pomegranate seeds from the fruit.

Don't forget to rinse your fruit! I always use the Honest Company's fruit and vegetable wash. It's easy, effective, plus it's all natural and toxin/chemical free.

Next - pop the champagne!

Now, pour your favorite kind of champagne or sparkling wine into an ice filled pitcher. I chose a darker sparkling rosé because that was the mood I was in, plus I love the rich color for a fall drink. However, you can easily switch it out to a regular brut variety, and then the pomegranate seeds will pop even more.

Add about a cup or so of elderflower liqueur. My personal favorite brand is St. Germain. It's not a science here, so just add until it suits your personal preference.

Squeeze in the juice of 1 orange and half of a lemon (which simply makes the drink a little brighter and pairs really nicely with the basil).

Mix it up.

Add some sprigs of basil, pop in your pomegranate seed, and cut a wedge of orange as garnish.

If you want to pump up the basil flavor a bit more, just let some basil soak in the elderflower liqueur for about an hour or so, and then use that instead of just pouring it straight from the bottle.

And there you have it! A Pomegranate Basil Sparkler.

You can purchase this towel from One Kings Lane - and it's on sale! It also comes in pink.

For the final step, simply enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 bottle of champagne or sparkling wine
1-2 cups elderflower liqueur
1 orange
1/2 lemon
1 pomegranate
Fresh basil

Directions:

Pour sparkling wine into an ice filled pitcher.
Add 1-2 cups elderflower liqueur (amount depends on your personal preference).
Add juice from 1 orange.
Add juice from half a lemon.
Stir.
Pour into ice filled glasses and add basil, pomegranate seeds, and an orange wedge as garnish.

You can also shop my look below. I'm wearing a simple Joie sweater (20% off), some J. Crew cords, my Tory Burch riding boots, some sparkly earrings (they're on sale!), and Bobbi Brown lip color (Desert Plum).

Cheers!