Our Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail is a perfect example of a garden-to-serving glass to enjoy on a hot day.
What your sipping on often changes with the summer. Like cooking, good cocktail creation depends heavily on what is in season.
We’re using the best from what’s seasonally available to create drinks that are both delicious and pretty nice to look at.
Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail
We’re already into May, which means summer is around the corner.
Summer is the perfect time to sip on fruity and refreshing drinks, and our Blackberry Bourbon Smash cocktail will be a summer hit!
When possible, we love to use seasonal fruit in this fruity cocktail.
And these juicy blackberries are typically in season from May to September.
This delicious cocktail is made with fresh blackberries from North Bay Produce, mint leaves, ginger beer, brown sugar syrup, and your choice of bourbon.
It’s a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making it an excellent choice for sipping on a hot summer day.
This cocktail is easy to make and can be customized to your liking by adjusting the sweetness or adding a splash of club soda for a bit of fizz.
This bourbon cocktail would also be great to enjoy this week for the Kentucky Derby!
What You Will Need
Fresh Mint & Ripe Blackberries. Fresh-picked mint is some kind of wonderful because adding fresh mint is an easy and inexpensive way to elevate summertime cocktail creation. And in Michigan, August and September is the height of blackberry season.
For this cocktail recipe, we have added both mint and sweet blackberries, and the results are a drink that delivers a refreshing berry-forward mix that is the perfect ode to late summer vibes.
Bourbon. Avoid top-shelf or subpar brands when reaching for a bourbon to make mixed drinks. Going the cheap route will give you a drink that isn’t going to be good because the booze is whack.
But also, going for expensive bottles is a waste because you won’t be able to appreciate the complexity of bourbon with a high price tag. Going mid-grade is the way to go because it does what it needs to do, which is the whole point. We use bourbon quite often in some of our favorite cocktails.
Sweetened Lime Juice. Adding a touch of sweetened lime juice adds the brightness of citrus and a touch of sweetness, but not too sweet. No sweetened lime juice? No biggie; use freshly squeezed lime juice, and you will be fine.
Brown Sugar Syrup. This one is unexpected but effective in adding a bit of complexity to the mix. It is easy to make at home using a 1 + 1 mixture of equal parts light brown sugar and filtered water and brought to a low boil until the sugar is dissolved.
Ice. “Ice, ice, baby!” Ice is an essential ingredient when it comes to cocktail creation; it not only chills a drink, but when shaken in a cocktail shaker with the other ingredients, it creates dissolution, which helps the individual flavors to meld and, in essence, become one cohesive drink.
It sounds like alchemy, but it’s only science.
Ginger Beer. I love ginger beer, and it is no surprise that it is used quite often to finish a cocktail.
Ginger beer adds a bit of spice and has a way of bringing taking a drink up a notch or two. Cheers!
Alternative to using mint:
For me, mint reminds me of summer! If you don’t like mint, here are some of my favorite fresh herb options:
- Sweet or opal basil
- Rosemary
- tarragon
- marjoram
How to Make a Blackberry Bourbon Smash
1 serving
Ingredients:
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves or basil leaves
- 4-6 ripe blackberries
- 2 ounces bourbon (for the non-alcoholic version, omit the bourbon)
- 1/2 ounce sweetened lime juice
- 1 ounce of brown sugar syrup
- ice
- ginger beer
- fresh mint sprig for garnish
- fresh lime wedges or orange slices (additional garnish)
Directions:
- First, add mint leaves and blackberries into a cocktail shaker, then muddle.
- Add the ice, bourbon, sweetened lime juice, and brown sugar syrup.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ginger beer 1/3 of the glass.
- Pour the berry mixture into the glass.
- Garnish with a fresh mint or basil sprig and a single fresh blackberry on a cocktail stick.
- Serve.
What is a bourbon smash?
A bourbon smash cocktail is a classic cocktail made with bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and fresh mint.
The ingredients are muddled together in a shaker or mixing glass, then strained over ice and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint.
The cocktail is refreshing and has a perfect balance of sweetness, tartness, and bourbon’s warm, smoky flavor.
Some variations of the cocktail may include different fruits or fresh herbs, such as blackberries, raspberries, or basil, to add a unique twist to the classic recipe.
See how we took this classic recipe to make a watermelon smash cocktail!
Alternatives to bourbon in this cocktail
You can use a different spirit if you’re not a bourbon whiskey fan.
While bourbon is traditionally used in a smash cocktail, you can use rum, gin, or vodka.
Remember that swapping out the bourbon for a different spirit may also alter this cocktail’s overall taste and balance.
Can I make this drink non-alcoholic?
Yes. To make this a non-alcoholic bourbon whiskey smash, omit the bourbon. You can also swap the bourbon in this drink with a non-alcoholic spirit.
Here are a few suggestions:
- Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative. This is one we use and recommend. This brand creates non-alcoholic versions of various spirits, including whiskey. Their whiskey alternative is made with botanicals and natural flavors to create a similar taste to bourbon.
- Spiritless Kentucky 74 Non-Alcoholic Bourbon. This is a non-alcoholic alternative to Kentucky bourbon, made with natural botanicals and flavors to create a similar taste.
- Lyre’s American Malt Non-Alcoholic Spirit. This is a non-alcoholic alternative to American malt whiskey that can be used as a substitute for bourbon in cocktails.
- Arkay Alcohol-Free Bourbon. This brand offers a range of alcohol-free spirits, including a bourbon alternative. It is made with natural flavors and extracts to replicate the taste of traditional bourbon.
Note: While these non-alcoholic spirits can be used as substitutes for bourbon in cocktails, they may not have the same flavor profile as traditional bourbon.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves or basil leaves
- 4-6 ripe blackberries
- 1/2 ounce sweetened lime juice
- 1 ounce of brown sugar syrup
- ice
- ginger beer
Directions:
- First, add mint leaves and blackberries into a cocktail shaker, then muddle.
- Add the ice, sweetened lime juice, and brown sugar syrup.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ginger beer 1/3 of the glass.
- Pour the berry mixture into the glass.
- Garnish with a fresh mint or basil sprig and a single fresh blackberry on a cocktail stick.
- Serve.
What if I don’t have Brown Sugar Syrup?
For this smash recipe, we’re using brown sugar syrup. You can make it right at home with minimal ingredients or purchase it at the store or online.
Here’s a simple recipe on how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup water
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar and water.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until the brown sugar dissolves.
- Once the sugar has dissolved, let the mixture simmer for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pan from heat and let it cool completely.
- Once cooled, transfer the syrup to a jar or airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
If you don’t want to use brown sugar syrup, you can substitute it for maple syrup, simple syrup, or honey syrup.
This Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail is a great addition to any summer gathering or backyard BBQ.
It’s a fun and refreshing way to enjoy fresh summer berries while staying cool and hydrated.
Give this cocktail a try and impress your guests with your bartending skills. Cheers!
More bourbon cocktails:
Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Ingredients
- 3-4 fresh mint leaves or basil leaves
- 4-6 ripe blackberries
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz sweetened lime juice
- 1 oz brown sugar syrup
- ice
- ginger beer
- fresh mint sprig for garnish
- fresh lime wedges or orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- First, add mint leaves and blackberries into a cocktail shaker, then muddle.
- Add the ice, bourbon, sweetened lime juice, and brown sugar syrup.
- Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Fill a rocks glass with ice and add ginger beer 1/3 of the glass.
- Pour the berry mixture into the glass.
- Garnish with a fresh mint or basil sprig and a single fresh blackberry on a cocktail stick.
Nutrition
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