Raise your hand if you like seasonal cocktails. FYI – my hand just shot straight up in the air and I started waving it around very enthusiastically, like I just don’t care. Yeah – I went there…sorry…
Anyhoooooooo……..
I absolutely cannot be trusted to go produce shopping by myself during the spring and summer months. I get sucked in by all of the beautiful berries found at the store/farmer’s market and always bring home copious quantities of those sparkling little gems. Being a household of only two people, it is inevitable that we will not be able to consume every single one of those perfect, juicy berries. (Ummmm – why did I buy 17 pounds of them again?!) I mean, there are only so many smoothies, and yogurt parfaits, and berry toppings, (oh Jeez – the list is endless because I LOVE BERRIES!) that one can make before they start to go bad and look sad and droopy. At that point, what is a berry lovin’ gal to do? Well, this berry lovin’ gal is also a booze lovin’ gal, so my thoughts naturally turn to cocktails! There are few things more satisfying to me than muddling up some fresh fruit with vodka or gin to make a delightful little tipple that will make any afternoon a pinch brighter.
Yesterday, I was faced with a bounty of blackberries, one completely overgrown rosemary bush, and a bushel-full of Meyer lemons from my generous sister-in-law’s lemon tree (thank you Janel!!!). Naturally, my mind started screaming blackberry lemon drop and I got a wild hair to add some rosemary. Yep – this one is definitely a keeper! It’s even delicious without the booze for those days when you are feeling like doing something extra nice to yourself and want to save your liver. The rosemary just provides the slightest herbaceous note that keeps this from veering too sweet or too tart. Enjoy!
Blackberry Lemon Drop Martini with Rosemary Essence – Makes 1 drink
Ingredients:
- 4 plump blackberries (use one or two more if your blackberries are struggling)
- 1/2 spring of fresh rosemary
- 2.5 ounces of gin or vodka (I prefer gin here, but that’s up to your palate)
- 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- Ice
Instructions:
In your cocktail shaker, muddle the blackberries and rosemary until the berries have released their juice and are nice and pulpy.
Fill the shaker with ice. Pour in the gin/vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup. Cover and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. Note: Do not skimp on the shaking – this cocktail is potent and has strong flavors. It needs the shaking to water it down a bit.
Double strain into a martini glass and garnish with a thinly sliced lemon wheel and a fresh blackberry.
A note on double straining: With all of the fresh ingredients, this cocktail can be a bit thick with fruit debris. Double straining thins it out and makes it more pleasing to look at. I use a cocktail strainer instead of the top of the martini shaker because the shaker holes are more prone to clogs. While I am pouring it into the glass, I also hold a mini fine mesh sieve over the glass to catch any stray pulp. Don’t judge, but prior to purchasing a mini mesh strainer, I used my larger kitchen one in a pinch. While it looks completely ridiculous, it works just fine!
To make a non-alcoholic version, use the same muddle method, but substitute mineral water or club soda for the booze. Depending on how strong you prefer your flavors, you may want to start with one ounce of the mineral water and increase from there.
