Blackberry Bourbon Limeade!

  • 1 Cup single barrel bourbon (Bulleit Rye bourbon or Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon works best)
  • Simple Syrup (1/2 cup sugar dissolved into ½ cup water )
  • 2 Cups Blackberries
  • Juice from 3 limes
  • 8 leaves of mint plus more to garnish
  • Sparkling wine Half bottle (or more to taste)

In a saucepan over medium heat stir water and sugar until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add mint, covering the pan and allowing the syrup to steep until cool (this syrup can be stored for up to two weeks) Muddle blackberries using your Fletchers’ Mill Muddler to desired chunkiness. Combine cooled simple syrup, lime juice and bourbon in serving pitcher adding the sparkling wine at the end to maintain its effervescent qualities. Garnish each glass with remaining mint leaves.

This cocktail was born by chance; I knew my base as bourbon is required in every proper southerner’s drink. All this southern nostalgia drove me to remember my favorite past time at Sonic when Happy hour was from 2-5 pm and I would procure a gallon size portion of limeade, ingredient two done. Every cocktail must have a sweetness factor and luckily blackberries were on sale. Leftover mint simple syrup from my Kentucky Derby Party provided ingredient four. Sparkling wine came from the failed attempt at sparkling water, when in doubt an alcoholic beverage is always better than not. Be careful! This drink is delicious but should be consumed in moderation, safety first! Enjoy!