The pomegranate is Azerbaijan's national fruit, celebrated every autumn at a festival in Goychay, and it turns up everywhere: in sauces, syrups, juice and wine. Pomegranate wine was long made at home and is now a signature of Azerbaijani wineries and Baku's wine bars, sitting alongside the country's grape wines from vineyards that go back millennia. Azerbaijan does not have one classic cocktail, so this is a simple, honest way to serve that wine: lengthened with fresh juice and soda over ice, with mint from the herb plate.

Most Azerbaijanis are Muslim and many do not drink alcohol, so the zero proof version below matters as much as the original. It is built on şərbət, the sweet fruit drink served at Azerbaijani weddings and celebrations, and it looks just as good catching the evening light over the Caspian.

The spritz

Ingredients

• 3 oz (90 ml) pomegranate wine, chilled
• 1 1/2 oz (45 ml) unsweetened pomegranate juice, chilled
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 oz (60 ml) soda water, chilled
• ice cubes
• 1 sprig fresh mint
• 1 tablespoon fresh pomegranate seeds

Method

1. Fill the glass two thirds with ice. Pour in the pomegranate wine, pomegranate juice and lemon juice and stir gently for 5 seconds.
2. Top with the soda water and stir once. Slap the mint sprig once between your palms to release its scent, tuck it into the glass and scatter in the pomegranate seeds.

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