At this time of year, the darkest, coldest time, the days of bikinis and sandy beaches seem both long gone and eons into the future. Cover-ups have been replaced by parkas. Flip-flops have given way to snow boots. Bye bye, mai tai, hello hot cocoa. That's all well and good, but sometimes a girl just needs some Summer.

Enter the Lemon Pomegranate Poolside. I call it a poolside because that's just where this cocktail transports me: Sipping on it, I feel like I've got the sun on my skin, my toes dangling in deliciously cool waters. I can't tell you how the flavors work together--amaretto and lemon and pomegranate and rum--but somehow, they do.

Sometimes it's best not to question these things, and just go along with the magic.

The zing of lemon flavor in this cocktail comes courtesy of Stirrings mixers. I signed up for their Holiday Blogger Challenge and received some of their products in exchange for coming up with a recipe using them.

I used the Lemon Drop mixer and sugar rimmer. The citrusy flavor comes through brilliantly, and the ingredients list doesn't scare me at all. Why? Because I can easily pronounce all of the ingredients! Stirrings products use natural ingredients, something I'm always happy to get on board with.

Let's talk about that rimmer. You could use regular granulated sugar, but I find that the punch of lemon flavor from the Stirrings rimmer gave the drink an added burst of citrus right from the start. Whatever you use, wet the glass with pomegranate juice (it'll be our brilliant little secret). And because you're using pomegranate juice in this recipe, it's automatically healthy. Score!

If there's one thing I don't need on the side of my Summer, it's complicated math--especially when it comes to making a tasty drink. That's why this cocktail is all about the 1:1 ratio--mix together one ounce of each ingredient, and you've got yourself your own personal pool party. It's even easier when you're making a big batch (another thing this cocktail is great for).

1:1:1:1 = Happiness.

A word of caution: This drink goes down real easy. My elderly neighbor paid us a visit as we were testing the recipe, and I gave her a sample. "This is nice," she said, over and over again, "This is really nice." By the time she left, she was giddier than I've ever seen her before. You've been warned. Now go enjoy.

Lemon Pomegranate Poolside

Pour some pomegranate juice in a dish large enough to accommodate the top of your glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the pomegranate juice, then into the Lemon Drop rimmer. Tilt the glass as needed to get the rimmer to stick to the rim. Stir together 1 ounce each of Stirrings Lemon Drop mixer, pomegranate juice, white rum, and amaretto liqueur, along with 2 - 3 dashes of aromatic bitters. Pour over an ice-filled glass and top with club soda. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a twist of lemon.

Notes: For more of a cocktail-y feel, omit the club soda and shake over ice. Serve straight up in a martini glass. This is a great big batch cocktail recipe!

If you want to give this cocktail a try, or come up with your own concoction, a few places you can find Stirrings mixers in central Maryland are: Food Lion, Total Wines & More, Wine Source, and Hunt Valley Wine & Liquors.

Also, check them out on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Stirrings

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StirringsMixer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stirrings/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stirringsmixers/