Blackberry Lemonade Cocktail with Thyme and Vodka!
I think this refreshing little cocktail would put a smile on almost anyone’s face! What’ could be better than a sweet and tart, freshly made blackberry lemonade, flavored with some fresh thyme and spiked with a good jolt of vodka? When the weather gets warmer, fruity but not too-sweet drinks always get my attention. You can control the sweetness level easily in this beautiful and herbaceous Blackberry Lemonade Cocktail. This is how you can make it too!
1st, Blackberry Puree
In a small saucepan, make the blackberry puree. Add 1/2 cup fresh blackberries and cook on low heat and continue to smash up the berries with a fork or a potato masher. Remove from heat and strain into a small dish. You want to keep the juice and discard the solids. I actually give the solid parts to my chickens, but you can still enjoy that on toast, trust me. The chickens and I know what we are talking about.
2nd, Thyme Infused Simple Syrup
Make your thyme-infused simple syrup. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a sauce pan on medium heat. Add 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme and let the mixture come to a simmer. Cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool with the fresh thyme. Remove the thyme sprigs and put into a jar and chill until ready to make the drinks. (This syrup will last a few weeks in the refrigerator.
3rd, Put it Together – Blackberry Lemonade Cocktail with Thyme and Vodka
For the Cocktail, add a tablespoon of the blackberry puree/juice and 2 ounces of freshly squeezed lemon juice Into a shaker filled with ice. Then add 1 ounce of thyme infused simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of vodka and shake it up. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Then, top with sparkling water. Garnish with a fresh blackberry, sprig of thyme and a lemon Twist, and Bob’s your uncle! Cheers!
Ingredients
For the Blackberry Purée
- 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
For the Simple Syrup
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3-4 fresh sprigs of thyme
For the Cocktail
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces lemon juice
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Blackberry puree
- Sparkling water or club soda
- Garnish: fresh Blackberry, lemon and thyme sprig
Instructions
For the Blackberry Puree
- In a small saucepan, add 1/2 cup fresh blackberries. Cook on low heat and continue to smash up the berries with a fork or a potato masher. Remove from heat and strain into a small dish. Discard the solids
For the Simple Syrup
- Make your thyme-infused simple syrup. Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water to a sauce pan on medium heat. Add 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme and let the mixture come to a simmer. Cook until the sugar has compleltely dissolved. Turn off the heat and allow the syrup to cool with the fresh thyme. Remove the thyme sprigs and put into a jar and chill until ready to make the drinks. (This syrup will last a few weeks in the refrigerator.
- Into a shaker filled with ice, add 1 tablespoon of blackberry puree, 2 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice and 1 ounce of thyme infused simple syrup. Add 2 ounces of vodka shake vigorously. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice. Then, top with sparkling water. Garnish with a fresh blackberry, sprig of thyme and a lemon Twist.
