The babysitter is usually stuck at the kids’ table because they’re a recent graduate themselves. Hanging somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, they’re too cool for the spirit-free beverages the kids are slurping down but not quite ready for the full-bodied reds their parents are enjoying with dinner. Enter: The Babysitter. Enjoy in a tall glass with dinner or split it into shots to get everyone to join in on the fun.

The Babysitter

This recipe will make about 3-5 shots, depending on the size of the shot glass.

Ingredients

3 cinnamon sticks

5 cloves

5 white peppercorns

1 whole nutmeg, roughly cracked

8 oz pomegranate juice

1 cup white sugar

1 1/2 oz Tito’s

1 ½ oz fresh-squeezed orange juice

½ oz lime juice

½  oz spiced grenadine syrup

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions

For the syrup: Over medium heat, toast 3 cinnamon sticks, 5 cloves, 5 white peppercorns and 1 whole nutmeg (roughly cracked) until fragrant. Add 8 oz pomegranate juice and 1 cup white sugar. Stir until sugar is completely dissolved and let simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Let cool to room temp. Bottle and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

For the cocktail: Add all to a cocktail shaker, top with ice, and shake to combine, about 20-30 seconds. Strain with a cocktail strainer and fine-mesh strainer to remove any ice shards.

STORY BY MAGGIE WEAVER/RECIPES BY KAITLIN FELLERS/ PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVE BRYCE/STYLING BY KEITH RECKER