Summertime is mulberry season, and if you love these little plump berries, you will love our incredibly addictive Mulberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail.
It’s made with our Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup. Cheers!
Mulberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Here is a cocktail that only comes around in the summertime, and boy ‘o boy, how we wish it weren’t the case.
You see, mulberries only appear in the warmer months in the Midwest, and as far as I know, you won’t find them in the frozen food section.
And maybe that’s a good thing because absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?
Perhaps, the rarity of mulberries in the off-season is also why this cocktail is so special.
In Michigan, mulberries can be harvested from late June through August, and then they’re gone.
Talk about a short window to enjoy this dark, sweet, and succulent fruit.
But by making the berries into our spiced simple syrup, you can enjoy a mulberry cocktail year-round.
You got to try this delicious concoction.
I mean, our friendship could very well be in jeopardy. Real talk? Maybe.
But seriously, though, do yourself a favor and give it a whirl!
What’s the worse thing that can happen?
Our Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup is a darker the berry, the sweeter the juice kind of love affair.
In the Midwest, you can find a mulberry tree just about anywhere, and if you are fortunate, you’ll see them pop up at farmers’ markets here and there.
They look similar to blackberries, but the berries are bruised easier and will stain your fingers with their dark sweet berry juice lickety-split!
I find the best way to find them is to ask around because there is always someone who knows where the mulberry trees grow.
Mulberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup
- 2 ounces of bourbon whiskey
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 whole mulberries
- 1-ounce triple-sec liquor
- 2 fresh mint leaves
- mint sprig for garnish
- 2-3 whole mulberries for garnish
- ice
Directions:
- Add four mulberries, two mint leaves, and lemon juice, and muddle into a cocktail tin.
- Add bourbon whiskey, triple sec, and two Mulberry Spiced Fruit Syrup.
- Fill the cocktail tin with crushed ice and secure the lid.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and 2-3 whole mulberries.
- Serve.
Muddling the mint leaves and whole mulberries together is the best kind of cocktail apothecary.
How to make Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mulberries
- 1 cup of filtered water
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon vodka (optional)
Directions:
- Add the mulberries and filtered clean water to a saucepan over med-high heat.
- Add pure maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.
- Bring the mixture to a roiling boil for about two minutes.
- Using a fork or a potato smasher, press down on the fruit to release the berry juice.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and place a tight-fitting lid on top.
- Allow the spiced mulberry simple syrup to steep for fifteen to twenty minutes.
- Once the fruit syrup has cooled, add one tablespoon of vodka to extend the shelf life to a month.
- Store inside of the fridge in a Mason jar with a lid.
For this recipe, I used a cup and a half of just-picked fresh mulberries and sweetened the deal with light brown sugar and two tablespoons of real maple syrup, and to spice things up, I tossed in a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg.
You can whip this easy recipe in under ten minutes, but you will be able to enjoy it for a lot longer than that because when you store it in an airtight Mason jar, it will last for 1-2 weeks, but I have a feeling it’ll be all gone by then.
This is also a great way to sweeten cocktails and just about anything you want to add a little bit of sweet spice to, like yogurt, oatmeal, or drizzle some on top of your ice cream.
To extend the shelf life of the fruit-flavored syrup, add a single tablespoon of vodka to the cooled syrup and store it in an airtight and sterilized Mason jar. It should last up to thirty (30) days. Enjoy.
Try these berry drinks:
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon whiskey
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 4 whole mulberries
- 1- ounce triple sec liquor
- 2 fresh mint leaves
- mint sprig for garnish
- 2-3 whole mulberries for garnish
- ice
Instructions
- Add four mulberries, two mint leaves, and lemon juice, and muddle into a cocktail tin.
- Add bourbon whiskey, triple sec, and two Mulberry Spiced Fruit Syrup.
- Fill the cocktail tin with crushed ice and secure the lid.
- Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and 2-3 whole mulberries.
- Serve.
Notes
How to make Spiced Mulberry Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mulberries
- 1 cup of filtered water
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon vodka (optional)
Directions:
- Into a saucepan over med-high heat add the mulberries and filtered clean water.
- Add pure maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg.
- Bring the mixture to a roiling boil for about two minutes.
- Using a fork or a potato smasher press down on the fruit to release the berry juice.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and place a tight-fitting lid on top.
- Allow the spiced mulberry simple syrup to steep for fifteen to twenty minutes.
- Once the fruit syrup has cooled, add one tablespoon of vodka to extend the shelflife up to a month.
- Store inside of the fridge in a Mason jar with a lid.
Amber Goodine says
This recipe was a hit! Have you tried canning the mulberry syrup? Did it last? I’d love to have some until next season.