Pomegranate Tequila Coolers with Fresh Date Syrup

Date syrup and date-sweetened pomegranate tequila coolers.


My last post of 2017.

And just like last year.

This feels good.

2016 was hard.

And I didn’t think it could be possible.

But 2017 seemed even harder.

My sister asked me the other day to sum up 2017 in three words. I had to think about it. Finally I responded with, frustrating. Empowering? And, loving. To which I discovered when you break it down like that, the year wasn’t all that bad I guess. Pretty typical with lots of highs, and lots of lows and in-betweens.

The reckoning has begun and that’s my favorite silver lining in the ‘lows’ category. Out with the old. In with the new. A rebirth. I particularly love this time of year. And it’s really exciting to think about the new year on the horizon.

Today I’m teaching you how to make a very simple date syrup. A recipe from my good pal, Tara’s {we studied nutrition together back in 2012!} new book. Recently it was named by Forbes as one of the best booze books in 2017. And I agree. It’s a total gem. Clean Cocktails: Righteous Recipes for the Modernist Mixologist uses healthy botanicals and natural sugars to produce feel good drinks.

Dates are loaded with potassium, copper, iron and vitamin B6. They also may be useful in reducing LDL cholesterol {that’s the bad kind}. This date syrup is used in a plethora of fresh cocktails in Tara’s book. It comes together in about an hour and will stay fresh for about a month. Beyond cocktails, date syrup can be used in a variety of recipes to sweetened foods naturally. Starting now, I’ll have a jar of this on hand at all times.

Right now I’m giving away a copy of Clean Cocktails on Instagram! I’ll pick a winner at random on December 29 at noon Central. Anyone 21 years of age can enter but the book must be shipped to a US address. Click here to enter.

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Date Syrup + Pomegranate Tequila Coolers

Date syrup from Clean Cocktails: Righteous Recipes for the Modernist Mixologist. Pomegranate Tequila Coolers adapted from Clean Cocktails. Date syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 1 pound Medjool dates pitted
• 3 cups filtered water
• 2 ounces silver tequila
• 1 ounce lime juice
• 1/2 ounce pomegranate juice
• ice

Instructions

• Combine the dates and water in a medium pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Stir and smash the dates with the back of a wooden spoon to break them down. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes while stirring occasionally.
• Remove the pot from the heat and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Pour the contents through a strainer, while pressing on the date meat to extract the syrup. 

To make this into a Tequila Pomegranate Cooler:

• Shake together 1/2 ounce date syrup, tequila, lime juice, pomegranate juice and ice. Pour the mixture into a rocks glass and sip. 

Notes