The purple people pleaser is a sweet bomb, tempered by ginger beer and lime. It’s a satisfying addition to my dry January cocktail menu that everyone finds appealing. The PPP is cherished by both my drinking and non-drinking friends. For the tee-totalers, it’s their ticket to the fun and camaraderie of our evening ritual.

Inspiration arrived with the memory of Sheb Wooley’s 1958 song. The refrain about a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin’ Purple People Eater left a life-long impression on a a pre-schooler.

If you’re paying attention you noticed I didn’t include non-alcoholic in the name. It’s intentional because I believe this and others are worthy of being called cocktails in their own right. Whatever you do…don’t “mock” them because they are seriously good.

Pomegranate

First a word of warning. Pom juice will stain anything on earth, so be careful when processing the fruit or juice. I buy commercial juice and arils to minimize the danger of splatter while working with them.

Pomegranate’s natural home is Iran and Northern India, but migrated to Spain and the U.S. long ago. It grows from a tall shrub and has anti-oxidant superpowers three times that of red wine. I find the flavor extremely sweet with a hint of tartness and the arils (seeds) have a delightful crunch.