Refreshing Blackberry Bourbon Smash
A quick and easy 5-ingredient summer cocktail featuring fresh blackberries, bourbon, mint, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Perfect for spontaneous gatherings and warm weather.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 fresh blackberries
- 2 oz bourbon (e.g., Buffalo Trace or Maker’s Mark)
- 6–8 fresh mint leaves
- 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, dissolved)
- Crushed ice (optional)
- Lemon wheel or additional mint sprig for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse fresh blackberries and mint leaves. Juice a lemon to get about 1 oz (30 ml) of fresh lemon juice per cocktail.
- Place 6-8 blackberries and 6-8 mint leaves in the bottom of your shaker or jar. Use your muddler to gently press down and twist, releasing the juice and mint oils without pulverizing the mint.
- Pour in 2 oz bourbon, 1 oz lemon juice, and 0.5 oz simple syrup. Add a handful of crushed ice.
- Cover and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds, or stir well if using a jar without a shaker top.
- Strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with fresh crushed ice. Skip straining if you prefer some pulp.
- Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lemon wheel. Serve immediately.
Notes
Do not over-muddle the mint to avoid bitterness. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Crushed ice chills and dilutes gently. Thaw frozen blackberries before use to avoid watery texture. Adjust sweetness by varying simple syrup. For a low-alcohol version, substitute bourbon with sparkling water or lemon-lime soda.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cocktail (about 4-
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 9
- Sodium: 1
- Carbohydrates: 11
- Fiber: 2
Keywords: blackberry bourbon smash, summer cocktail, easy cocktail, bourbon drink, mint cocktail, refreshing drink, simple syrup cocktail