Employees Only Mata Hari Pomegranate Cocktail

Mata Hari: A Pomegranate Cocktail

Recipe: Dushan Zaric , Employees Only , New York City

Photo: Joanna Lin

December 06, 2024

Cognac and pomegranate bring depth to this Employees Only classic.

Originally conceived as a pomegranate ‘Tini with vodka for the 2004 opening menu of Employees Only New York, Dushan Zaric and the bar crew quickly realized vodka lacked the depth and body to stand up to pomegranate juice and spiced vermouth. “I then suggested skipping the vodka and using higher-proof cognac, and it worked perfectly,” says Zaric. “Cognac gave the cocktail the foundation we were missing and helped us develop what became one of our EO classics.”

Ingredients

1 1/4 oz. cognac
1 oz. chai-infused sweet vermouth
3/4 oz. pomegranate juice
3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup

Tools:shaker, strainer
Glass:coupe
Garnish:dehydrated rosebuds

Preparation

Add all of the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake to chill. Strain into a glass and garnish.
Chai-Infused VermouthCombine 1/2 oz. of loose-leaf chai tea, 15 white peppercorns, 15 whole cloves, 15 whole green cardamom, and 1 cinnamon stick in a teabag. Take 8 oz. of sweet vermouth (Employees Only uses Dolin) and isolate in a pot. Heat all the ingredients together with the vermouth in the pot until steaming hot. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool for 30 minutes before straining into the bottle with the rest of the untouched vermouth. Will keep in the refrigerator for 2 months.