Ever since I developed extreme gastritis a few years ago, my stomach just cannot handle the taste of strong liquor. It immediately triggers my gag reflex, which as you can imagine, is a reaction I try to avoid at all costs. I’ve always been taught to never turn down a drink in a professional networking setting, so I have to get creative when mixing cocktails that a. taste great, b. won’t upset my stomach, and c. still contain an acceptable amount of alcohol. I’m a big fan of fruity flavoring and carbonation, so I usually turn to A&W, 7UP, Canada Dry, Sunkist, SUN DROP, RC Cola, and Squirt to chase the stringency of hard liquor. 7UP has always been one of my favorite mixers, since its lemon-lime zing goes well with just about everything, so I used it to create a delicious holiday pom spritzer for a friend’s Christmas party earlier this month. These cocktails were such a hit that I’ll be serving them at my family’s Christmas Eve dinner, as well!

Here’s what you’ll need: 2-Liter Bottle of 7UP (I got mine at Walmart for $1) | Pomegranate Cocktail Mixer of Your Choice (I use Ocean Spray Pomegranate Cran-Energy, although regular pomegranate juice works well, too) | Vodka | Fresh Pomegranate Arils. If you’re looking to cut calories, Diet 7UP and/or 7UP TEN still taste great and work well, too.

To try this colorful, holiday pom spritzer for yourself, combine 2.5 oz of chilled 7UP, 2.5 oz of chilled pomegranate mixer of choice, and 1 fl oz of vodka in a glass. If your beverages aren’t chilled, feel free to serve over ice. For lightweights/lemon-lime fans like me, add a hint– equivalent to one normal-sized wedge– of fresh lime juice and a handful of pomegranate fresh arils to further dilute the taste of vodka. Voila– your tasty seasonal cocktails are ready to serve!

Exciting side note– these beverages are teaming up with VUDU so that you and your family can relax and enjoy the best holiday movies in the comfort of your own home. When you purchase (10) 2- liters or (5) 0.5L 6-packs during the month of December at Walmart, you’ll receive a $5 VUDU credit. With holiday parties and dinners popping up all over everyone’s calendar, it’s very likely that you’ll make good use of your 10+ 2-liters. To redeem your free credit, just take a photo of your receipt. Note that it needs to clearly show that the qualifying items have been purchased. Create an account or log in to an existing account and submit the image of your receipt for validation. Submit any additional receipts to your account for validation now through December 31, 2015. Quick and easy.

What cocktails are you mixing this Christmas? If you love my holiday pom spritzer recipe, you’ll also love this festive cranberry basil margarita, too! Enjoy!

_{This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of DPSG. The opinions and text are all mine.}