This Blackberry Bourbon Smash is the ideal summer cocktail – easy to make, super refreshing, well balanced, and a great use of seasonal produce! With only 6 ingredients, it's the an impressive drink for entertaining or just slow sipping on a hot afternoon.
I'll be the first to say that I don't love bourbon on its own, but a bourbon cocktail? Sign me up!
The rich, intense flavor of bourbon pairs beautifully with ripe summer fruit like peaches, cherries, and berries (specifically blackberries!). This blackberry bourbon smash utilizes a homemade blackberry syrup for tons of flavor, and freshly squeezed lime juice to balance everything out.
It's delicious, refreshing, and perfect for a hot summer day!
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Well balanced flavors: Sweet blackberry + rich bourbon + tart lime juice + refreshing mint + plenty of fizz from the club soda. Every sip is perfectly balanced!
- Fun color: The blackberry simple syrup and muddled blackberries add a deep purple hue to this cocktail, making it super fun and unique.
- Great for summer entertaining: Make the blackberry simple syrup ahead of time so you can easily and quickly assemble these cocktails for any entertaining occasion.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this blackberry bourbon smash:
Ingredient Notes
- Mint: Fresh mint is great in this for extra flavor! We like to use it both in the cocktail as well as for a garnish.
- Club soda: We use this to add a bit of fizz to top off your cocktail. You can also use sparkling/seltzer water.
- Blackberry simple syrup: We use our homemade blackberry simple syrup in this cocktail. It's super tart, sweet, and so flavorful! It's also easy to make.
- Lime juice: Freshly squeezed is always best in cocktails.
- Bourbon: Since there are several other ingredients in this cocktail, you don't need to use a super high quality, expensive bourbon. Something mid-range works well! You can also use whiskey if preferred.
Instructions
(1) Add bourbon, blackberry simple syrup, lime juice, and mint leaves to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice and shake well for 10 seconds.
(2) Muddle a few blackberries in each cocktail glass.
(4) Add ice and strain the cocktail mixture into the glass. Top with club soda, stir, garnish with a sprig of mint and/or more blackberries and enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- Muddling: We use a muddler to mash the blackberries directly in the glass we're serving it in. Make sure to use ripe berries for maximum flavor and freshness. If you don't have a muddler, you can use the handle of a wooden spoon.
- Garnishes: Fresh mint makes for a gorgeous garnish and also adds a fragrant final touch. I also love to garnish with some fresh blackberries! Of course, you can also just serve it up plain over ice.
- Storage: Store without club soda in a pitcher or sealed jar for up to 3 days. Shake or stir well again before serving, then top off with club soda.
More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
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📖 Recipe
Blackberry Bourbon Smash
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Blackberry Bourbon Smash is the ideal summer cocktail – easy to make, super refreshing, well balanced, and a great use of seasonal produce! With only 6 ingredients, it's the an impressive drink for entertaining or just slow sipping on a hot afternoon.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon or whiskey
- 2 ounces blackberry simple syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- 6 mint leaves, torn
- 2 ounces club soda
- Optional: 2-3 fresh blackberries per drink
Instructions
- Add bourbon, blackberry simple syrup, lime juice, and mint leaves to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice and shake well for 10 seconds.
- Muddle a few blackberries in a cocktail glass. Add ice and strain the cocktail mixture into the glass.
- Top with club soda, stir, garnish with a sprig of mint and/or more blackberries and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktails
- Method: Shaker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail
- Calories: 243
- Sugar: 28.3 g
- Sodium: 13 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.4 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
Loree Shaw says
What do you have on the rim? Can’t wait to make this!!
Lexi says
It's a special lavender infused salt - we mostly just added it for the photo 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Julie says
I just had the most amazing experience with this recipe! The blend of fresh blackberries, the rich undertones of bourbon, and the zing of lime creates a perfect harmony of flavors. I highly recommend this recipe to anyone who appreciates a well-crafted, flavorful cocktail. Cheers! 🍹🍇🥃
Lexi says
Love to hear that, thanks so much!