Pomegranate Champagne Punch - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 (750 ml) bottles Brut champagne, chilled
1 1/2 cups white rum
1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
pomegranate seeds
fresh mint leaves
ice, 1 block

Preparation

Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves.
Simmer 5 minutes.
Cool syrup completely.
Combine Champagne, rum, and pomegranate juice in punch bowl.
Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste.
Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves.
Add ice block to bowl.