a berry great cocktail recipe
Happy Cocktail Friday! Eating and drinking anything filled with fresh bloobs is how I like to spend my summer. I’m not the biggest cocktail drinker, but this libation filled with fresh blueberry syrup and lemon juice is a no-brainer on a hot summer afternoon. The blueberry syrup is super easy to make – you really just simmer fresh blueberries with water and sugar until, you have a dark red syrup. Use less sugar for less sweetness, of course. Once you’ve stirred up the cocktail, garnish with a few sprigs of fresh mint and whole blueberries, and you’re ready to go. See the notes below on how to make this a big batch drink for your summer barbecues!
⟶ the recipe
blueberry lemon crush
ingredients
For the blueberry syrup (makes ~4 ounces)
1 cup blueberries
¾ cup sugar
½ cup water
For the cocktail
Ice
3 ounces gin
1 ½ ounces lemon juice
1 ½ ounces blueberry syrup
Club soda or sparkling water
Lemon slices and fresh mint leaves
Prep time
20 minutes
Cook time
5 minutes
Total time
25 minutes
Makes 1 cocktail
instructions
Start by making the blueberry syrup. Place blueberries in a small sauce pan, and add the sugar and water. Stir, and bring the mixture to a boil, until the sugar has dissolved completely. Reduce heat, and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until mixture is a deep red color and the blueberries look like they’ve lost most of their juice.
Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the liquid into a pourer, using a spoon to extract as much juice from the blueberries as you can. Discard the blueberry mush and you should have a clear, dark red syrup. Set the syrup aside to cool for about 10 minutes (or refrigerate if you want it quicker).
Fill a cocktail shaker three quarters of the way with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, and blueberry syrup. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, and strain into a glass filled with ice cubes. The glass should only be about ½ to ¾ of the way full, so top off the rest of it with the club soda.
Garnish with a lemon slice and a fresh sprig of mint.
⟶ make it a big batch
- Make this big batch! Quadruple this recipe, and instead of the cocktail shaker, place all ingredients besides the soda in a large punch bowl filled about ¾ of the way with ice. Top it with the club soda, and give it a few stirs before serving
⟶ make it a mocktail!
- Make it a mocktail! This drink makes an awesome mocktail. Just skip the gin and add more club soda or sparkling water. If you don’t want it too sweet, you can halve the amount of sugar you put in the blueberry syrup. It won’t be as thick, but it will still add a nice blueberry flavor. NOTE: if you make the mocktail version, the drink will look more purple rather than red. See the beautiful color difference in the photos above!
⟶ make it a spritz!
- Instead of topping with club soda, top with a bit of prosecco. You can also ditch the ice cubes and serve in a champagne glass if you’re feeling zesty
⟶ make it ahead & store it
- You should definitely make the blueberry syrup ahead of time if you can! Just seal it in a jar after it cools and refrigerate it for later. If you make extra or have leftover, the syrup will keep in the fridge for about a month
