Move over strawberries and citrus, there’s a new top dog in the fruity summer cocktail lineup. The verdict is in, ripe, Florida blueberries are the clear winner for summer 2022. The sweet tartness of blueberry’s juicy flavor makes it the ideal add-in for a large variety of delicious drink options. Whether you just handpicked your berries fresh from the farm or they’re freshly store bought - there’s a refreshing berry-based cocktail for every taste and summer occasion. Here’s our top 9 list of refreshing seasonal cocktails featuring this fresh and flavorful berry.
Move over strawberries and citrus, there’s a new top dog in the fruity summer cocktail lineup. The verdict is in, ripe, Florida blueberries are the clear winner for summer 2022. The sweet tartness of blueberry’s juicy flavor makes it the ideal add-in for a large variety of delicious drink options. Whether you just handpicked your berries fresh from the farm or they’re freshly store bought - there’s a refreshing berry-based cocktail for every taste and summer occasion. Here’s our top 9 list of refreshing seasonal cocktails featuring this fresh and flavorful berry.
The Recipe:
½ ounce lemon & sage simple syrup*
½ ounce blueberry puree
½ ounce blackberry puree
½ ounce Lillet Blanc
2 ounces Brockmans Gin
*For Lemon & Sage Simple Syrup
8 ounces water
1 cup sugar
8 sage leaves
Peel from 2 lemons
For lemon & sage simple syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine water and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Cook until sugar has dissolved completely. Add sage leaves and lemon peels. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and allow leaves to steep for 30 minutes to 1 hour (depending on desired strength). Remove the leaves and peels and store in an airtight container.
For cocktail: In a mixing cup with ice, add simple syrup, puree, Lillet Blanc and gin. Stir to combine. Pour into a glass and garnish with a lemon peel.
The Recipe:
1 ½ ounces Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka
1 ounce blueberry-rosemary syrup*
1 ounce lime juice
Blueberries
Thyme
*For Blueberry-Rosemary Syrup
1 cup fresh blueberries
3 tablespoons sugar
6 ounces water
2 rosemary sprigs
For blueberry-rosemary syrup: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, simmer blueberries, sugar, water and rosemary for about 10 minutes. Fine strain into an airtight container and store in refrigerator.
For cocktail: In a shaker with ice, add vodka, liqueur, syrup and lime juice. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with blueberries and thyme.
The Recipe:
¾ ounces blueberry/honey simple syrup*
½ ounces fresh lemon juice
Fresh blueberries
*For Blueberry Honey Syrup
8 ounces water
4 ounces honey
4 ounces sugar
4 ounces blueberries
For blueberry honey syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, add water, honey, sugar and berries. Muddle blueberries and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool and strain into an airtight container. Store in refrigerator.
For cocktail: In a shaker with ice, add whiskey, syrup and fresh lemon juice. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with fresh blueberries.
The Recipe:
2 ounces Western Son Blueberry Vodka
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup
1 barspoon red wine
Fresh blueberries
In a shaker with ice, add vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Top with red wine and garnish with fresh blueberries.
The Recipe:
6 blueberries
¾ ounce simple syrup
1 ½ ounces The Botanist Islay Dry Gin
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
3 basil leaves, torn
In a shaker, muddle blueberries and simple syrup. Add ice, gin, lime juice and basil leaves. Shake hard and fine strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with an extra sprig of basil.
The Recipe:
10 whole blueberries
¾ ounce simple syrup
1 ½ ounces Absolut Vodka
¾ ounce lemon juice
Mint leaf
In a shaker, muddle blueberries and simple syrup. Add ice, vodka and lemon juice. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a mint leaf.
The Recipe:
10 fresh blueberries
1 ½ ounces Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky
1 ½ ounces red sangria mix
½ ounce sour mix
Muddle 5 blueberries in a shaker. Add whisky, red sangria mix and sour mix. Shake well and strain into a glass over fresh ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with remaining blueberries.
The Recipe:
6 blueberries
4 basil leaves
1 ½ ounces Tito’s Handmade Vodka
3 ounces passion fruit juice
1 ounce lime-flavored sparkling water
1 ounce agave or simple syrup (optional)
½ ounce fresh lime juice
Muddle blueberries and 3 basil leaves in a glass. Add ice, vodka, passionfruit juice, lime soda, agave and lime juice. Stir to combine. Garnish a basil leaf.
The Recipe:
3 ½ ounces blueberry mix*
3 ounces SVEDKA Gin
2 dashes aromatic bitters
1 ounce egg white
*Blueberry Mix
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 ounce simple syrup
2 ounces fresh lemon juice
For blueberry mix: Add fresh blueberries, simple syrup and fresh lemon juice to a glass. Muddle until combined. Set aside until ready to use.
For cocktail: Add blueberry mix, gin, bitters and egg whites to a shaker, and shake vigorously. Add ice and shake again until chilled. Strain into a glass with fresh ice and garnish with lemon peel.
