Blackberry Gin Smash Cocktail Recipe

The Blackberry Smash cocktail is a delightful and refreshing libation that seamlessly blends the rich, earthy flavors of gin with the vibrant essence of fresh blackberries and rosemary. With a hint of citrus from freshly squeezed lemon juice and the muddled goodness of ripe blackberries, this cocktail is a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate.

Welcome to your new favorite cocktail: the Blackberry Gin Smash, a fun and festive spin on the classic gin smash. Like my Apple Cider Mimosa, these fruity cocktails are delightfully tart and perfect for entertaining. Crisp, herby, sweet and refreshing, they’re made with muddled blackberries, homemade cinnamon syrup, fresh herbs (I use rosemary), lemon, gin and cranberry juice.

Minimal ingredients that produce maximum flavor, these are great for any time of year after a long day. So grab your favorite cocktail shaker set and a rocks glass and have a delicious cocktail ready in about 30 minutes. 

🍇 Ingredients For The Blackberry Smash With Substitutions

• Organic Sugar – remember, not all sugar is vegan. I use organic sugar in all my recipes which is usually vegan.
• Cinnamon Sticks – if you don’t have cinnamon sticks you can substitute with one teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• Rosemary – I use a couple of sprigs of fresh rosemary for this Blackberry Smash, but you can also use other fresh herbs like fresh basil leaves or fresh mint or thyme. 
• Juicy Blackberries – like with my Lemon Blueberry Loaf and my Blackberry Mojito loaded with sweet blackberries, fresh are best in this recipe. You can substitute with any seasonal fruit or berries.
• Lemon Wedges – alternatively, you can substitute with fresh lime wedges or lime juice.
• Cranberry Juice (not pictured) – sweetened, organic cranberry juice works best. If you prefer using unsweetened juice, simply adjust the amount of cinnamon syrup you use to suit your taste.
• Gin – you can use your favorite bourbon or whisky if you don’t care for gin. Remember, not all brands of gin are vegan. Some examples of popular gin brands that are vegan are Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick’s and Gordon’s.
• Optional Garnishes – cranberries, cinnamon sticks, lemon slices, rosemary, blackberries, and/or dried blood oranges or other dried citrus slices.
• Filtered water & Ice

📖 How To Make A Blackberry Smash

Step 7: Use a cocktail strainer and strain into cocktail glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish and serve immediately. Cheers!

👩🏽‍🍳 Expert Tips

• This cocktail can be modified into a mocktail without compromising flavor. Simply omit the gin and replace it with 4 extra ounces of cranberry juice.
• The fresh rosemary and cinnamon syrup provide wonderful notes that make for an elevated, non-alcoholic option. 
• This blackberry cocktail is best prepared fresh, shortly before serving. 
• This recipe makes about 6-7 ounces of cinnamon syrup, so there will be extra. That said, using homemade simple syrup is a better way to sweeten tea, other cocktails (like my Spiced Orange Gin Spritz), hot cocoa, and coffee drinks (like this Skinny Vanilla Latte), as well as cakes (like this Vegan Carrot Cake), waffles, French toast and pancakes. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 
• You can use unsweetened cranberry juice in place of sweetened in this classic cocktail, however, you may need to increase the amount of simple syrup you use to suit your desired level of sweetness. Start with about 1 ounce of syrup per 8 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice and adjust as needed. 
• Don’t like blackberries? Try this Blueberry Lemonade Margarita or my New York Sour with cranberries.

🍒 Variations

• Make it sparkle – add a splash of club soda to make it more sparkling.
• Make it with bourbon – add Kentucky bourbon instead of gin to make bourbon smash.
• Get creative with herbs – instead of fresh rosemary, use fresh basil leaves or a sprig of fresh mint to garnish.
• Switch out the berries – use other tart berries instead of blackberries, such as raspberries or blueberries. TIP: If you love blueberries, try my Vegan Lemon Blueberry Muffins or my Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding.

💭 Frequently Asked Questions

🧀 Serving Suggestions

All in all, when serving a blackberry smash, you might want to pair it with complementary snacks or appetizers. Indeed, here are some ideas:

• Roasted Beet Hummus and Veggie Plate
• Vegetable Spring Rolls
• Baked Garlic Tofu Chèvre  and Baguette
• Spicy Nuts
• Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

🥂 More Refreshing Cocktails

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