Blackberry Smash Cocktail Recipe

Blackberry Smash Cocktail with beautiful garnishes on a white table

5 from 50 votes

With a hint of citrus from freshly squeezed lemon juice and the muddled goodness of ripe blackberries, this Blackberry Smash cocktail is a symphony of flavors that dance on the palate.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Cool time30

Total Time1 5

Course: alcoholic drinks, beverages

Cuisine: All

Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: drinks

Calories: 391kcal

Author: Deborah

Equipment

cocktail shaker set

Ingredients

1/2 cup filtered water
1/2 cup organic sugar
1/3 cup blackberries fresh or defrosted frozen
8 oz cranberry juice sweetened works best
4 oz gin
2 lemon wedges
ice

For Garnish (optional)

fresh cranberries on a cocktail skewer
cinnamon sticks
lemon slices
fresh rosemary
fresh blackberries

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Add water, sugar and cinnamon sticks to a small saucepan over medium high heat. This is your homemade cinnamon simple syrup.
Bring the mixture to a simmer and stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is fully dissolved. Reduce to low heat and allow mixture to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and allow the syrup to cool until it's at least lukewarm.
Add syrup to an airtight container or jar, seal and set aside.
Add rosemary, fresh berries, lemon wedges and 2 ounces of cinnamon syrup to a cocktail shaker.
Muddle the ingredients together, preferably with a muddler, until all the juices are released.
Add ice to the shaker, then cranberry juice and gin and shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
Use a cocktail strainer and strain into cocktail glasses filled with fresh ice. Garnish and serve immediately. Cheers!

Notes

- - Nutrition information is an estimate.
  - 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. It's a better way to sweeten tea, other cocktails, hot cocoa, and coffee drinks, as well as cakes, waffles, French toast and pancakes. You can store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  - You can use unsweetened cranberry juice in place of sweetened in this classic cocktail but 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.

Nutrition