Sweet honey and warming vanilla flavors of bourbon laced with juicy blackberries. Blackberry honey bourbon smash is great anytime of year for entertaining, brunch or casual cocktails.
It's been a while since we've had a cocktail and the holidays are here, so let's be festive and talk about bourbon on a Wednesday morning because, WHY NOT?
Whiskey/bourbon smash cocktails are my favorite bourbon drinks. Strong enough, sweet enough, and with just the teeniest splash of fresh lemon to be well balanced.
Truth. I wish I had one of these right now while I'm typing this. Perhaps that will have to change before Thanksgiving. These Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash cocktails are super simple to make and look like a fancy-pants cocktail.
Throw a sprig of thyme for garnish and 'bam' you're a craft cocktail guru. Don't worry, your secret about this easy 4-ingredient cocktail is safe with me.
How to make a Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Traveling for the holidays? That's the perfect reason to break out the muddler. Feel the satisfaction of those ripe blackberries bursting underneath. While I'd recommend just a gentle press of the berries, holiday travel rage might require a little more aggressive muddling. No worries - it will all be delicious.
The last time we smashed things together it was in the form of this apple whiskey smash, which is equally festive and awesome for fall. But let's get a little fruity and simmer it in with some local honey and balance it all with comforting bourbon.
To make Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash you'll need four ingredients...well, four ingredients plus water but I'm not counting that, so four ingredients it is. In a saucepan you'll simmer blackberries, honey and water to make your syrup. Strain it after cooling.
The next part gets even easier. Throw 3 large, juicy, sweet blackberries in a short tumbler glass. Muddle them gently (or aggressively depending on your day), and add your syrup, bourbon and a splash of lemon. Roll into another, larger glass (a mixing tin is perfect, but a pint glass is good too) with a little ice and pour right into your serving glass.
OPTIONAL COCKTAIL UPGRADES:
Along with the blackberries, add fresh herbs to muddle!
- Basil
- Mint
- Thyme
- Rosemary
Or if you want to go the smokey route, serve a little candied bacon with it!
Bonus points is to top this cocktail with a little crushed ice should you have it. Final step? Sit back, relax and sip. Pinkies optional, glass clinking encouraged.
Wishing you a very happy, healthy Thanksgiving filled with tasty eats, delicious treats and plenty of refreshing beverage to wash it down. Cheers my friends!
Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash
Ingredients
Blackberry Honey Syrup
- 6 ounce container blackberries (see notes)
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup water
Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash
- 1 ½ ounces bourbon
- 1 ½ ounces blackberry honey syrup
- splash fresh lemon juice
- 3 blackberries
Instructions
Blackberry Honey Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine the blackberries, honey and water. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, then reduce to low. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and let cool. Strain before using. Makes enough syrup for about 4 cocktails
Blackberry Honey Bourbon Smash
- In a short tumbler glass, muddle three fresh blackberries. Add bourbon, blackberry honey syrup, and lemon.
- Top with ice and roll into a mixing glass and back into the tumbler glass. Top with crushed ice.
Notes
- You'll need a 6-ounce container of blackberries to make the syrup, plus blackberries for muddling. It would be best to get two packages when buying the ingredients for this cocktail.
- The blackberry honey syrup will yield enough to make about 4 drinks.
- Local honey is said to help with seasonal allergies, if you're able to find and purchase local honey definitely give it a try! Plus it feels good to buy local.
Nutrition
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