This blackberry bourbon smash is a simple cocktail with fresh, seasonal produce! The bourbon really shines through so use whichever brand you like to drink.
Isn’t berry season the best time of year? From early summer strawberries to late summer blackberries, we love them all, and this blackberry bourbon smash is no exception!
Balanced with the freshness of mint leaves, and mouth-puckering tang of lime, the sweet, juicy berries and smooth caramel notes of bourbon are the stars that bring everything together.
Ingredients
- fresh blackberries
- mint leaves
- simple syrup or maple syrup
- lime juice
- bourbon
- soda water
Method
Add the blackberries, mint, simple syrup, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.
If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a glass jar with a lid will do just fine! Ours happens to be a mason jar-branded cocktail shaker with a perforated lid so we can strain out any large bits, however, any old jar and strainer will do.
Muddle the ingredients together. When you muddle, you’re pushing and squishing everything in the shaker to break the ingredients down.
In this blackberry bourbon smash mudding bruises the mint and berries, releasing oils and juices. Don’t worry if you don’t own a muddler! The handle end of a wooden spoon or rolling pin will work in a pinch.
Fill the shaker halfway with ice, and add the bourbon. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold, about 10-15 seconds.
Double strain the blackberry mixture into a rocks glass with fresh ice. The term “double strain” simply means to strain twice. This typically refers to straining through the shaker lid and again through a small, fine-mesh strainer to catch any remaining seeds and pulp.
Top the cocktail with soda water and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
Tips, Notes, & Substitutions
Make this cocktail with any summer berries you like but note the colour and tartness of blackberries is terrific in this drink!
To Make Simple Syrup – Boil a 1:1 ratio of water and sugar together until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once cool, store simple syrup in a glass container with a tight fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Feel free to substitute fresh lemon for lime if you like.
Bourbon is a corn-based spirit and we love it’s sweet smoothness, however, any whisky you like will work here.
This blackberry bourbon smash recipe multiplies well, so scale up if you need!
More Fun Cocktails To Try
Gin, Basil, and Raspberry Smash
Strawberry Lemonade Sangria
Hibiscus Sour
Prosecco Margarita
Pimm’s Lemon Crush
Peach Basil Wine Spritzer
If you make this recipe, let us know by tagging @baked_theblog + #bakedtheblog on Instagram! We love to feel like we’re in the kitchen with you.
Recipe
Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Description
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Digital kitchen scale
Ingredients
- Small handful of blackberries, about 6 berries
- Small handful of fresh mint leaves, about 8-10 leaves
- ½ oz simple syrup, see notes or maple syrup
- ½ oz lime juice
- 1-½ oz bourbon
- 2 oz soda water, or to taste
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the blackberries with the mint, simple syrup and and lime juice to bruise the mint leaves and berries, releasing the oils and juices.
- Fill the shaker halfway with ice, then add the bourbon. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the mixture is cold, about 15 seconds.
- Double strain the blackberry mixture into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
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