• My favorite cocktail requires three ingredients and zero stress but produces maximum flavor.
• A key ingredient is pomegranate juice — as a dietitian, I like that it's a source of antioxidants.
• The other two ingredients are triple sec and vodka, though the drink is easy to customize.

Picture this: It's cocktail hour, guests are arriving, and you're ready to impress them with the most delicious drink they've ever had.

Enter: My favorite three-ingredient cocktail.

It's so downright tasty that people I serve it to often assume it's some secret, ultra-complicated mixology masterpiece. I've had many guests sip it, pause mid-sentence, and say things like, "Oh my gosh, what is this? It's amazing!"

The reactions never get old, and neither does this versatile, elegant-looking drink. It's my secret weapon when hosting, and the best part is … it's actually really easy to make.

Here's how to prepare this cocktail and why I like it so much.

The recipe is pretty foolproof and customizable

My glorious concoction includes pomegranate juice, a touch of triple sec, and vodka. That's it!

Here's how I usually make it:

1. Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then 2 ounces pomegranate juice (I prefer POM Wonderful), ½ ounce triple sec, and 1 ½ ounces vodka.
2. Shake it for about 15 seconds.
3. Strain the mixture into your favorite cocktail glass (bonus points for adding fun garnishes, like pomegranate seeds or a citrus slice).
4. Sip and enjoy.

The cocktail is versatile, and its key ingredient makes me happy as a dietitian

As a dietitian, I'm a big fan of using 100% pomegranate juice because it contains no added sugars and is loaded with antioxidants. This means I can feel slightly virtuous while sipping this cocktail (even though alcohol isn't good for you).

This recipe is quite versatile, too. Ratios can be adjusted based on preference and it can be customized.

If you're not a fan of sweet cocktails, ditch the triple sec and use a flavored vodka instead.

I like using Cathead Satsuma mandarin vodka, which has a subtle citrus flavor that beautifully complements the pomegranate juice.

It's also a tasty mocktail if you omit the vodka or swap it out for a splash of soda water.

Overall, this drink is ridiculously simple to make, tastes like a million bucks, and has a stunning deep-red color that just looks impressive. I suggest giving it a chance.

Kevin Peterson is a "nose" for his own perfume company, Sfumato Fragrances, by day. By night, Sfumato's retail store in Detroit transforms into Peterson's craft cocktail bar, Castalia, where he is chief mixologist and designs drinks that pair with carefully selected aromas. He's also the author of Cocktail Theory: A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Drinks, which grew out of his many (many!) mixology experiments and popular YouTube series, Objective Proof: The Science of Cocktails.

It's fair to say that Peterson has had an unusual career trajectory. He worked as a line cook and an auto mechanic, and he worked on the production line of a butter factory, among other gigs, before attending culinary school in hopes of becoming a chef. However, he soon realized it wasn't really what he wanted out of life and went to college, earning an undergraduate degree in physics from Carleton College and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.

After 10 years as an engineer, he switched focus again and became more serious about his side hobby, perfumery. "Not being in kitchens anymore, I thought—this is a way to keep that little flavor part of my brain engaged," Peterson told Ars. "I was doing problem sets all day. It was my escape to the sensory realm. 'OK, my brain is melting—I need a completely different thing to do. Let me go smell smells, escape to my little scent desk.'" He and his wife, Jane Larson, founded Sfumato, which led to opening Castalia, and Peterson finally found his true calling.

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