Bourbon Dose

This is one of the greatest summertime whiskey sour variations you’ll ever find. If you’re looking for a delicious and refreshing cocktail to sip on, or if you have way too many blackberries from your nearest pick-your-own farm, you can’t go wrong with a Blackberry Whiskey Sour. This recipe combines the sweetness (and tartness!!) of fresh blackberries with the bold flavor of whiskey, and a hint of citrus. In my opinion, this creates a perfectly balanced drink that’s perfect for the outdoors or your next beach vacation.

To make this cocktail, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients: fresh blackberries, whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice. The combination of blackberries and whiskey may seem unconventional, but trust me – it’s a match made in cocktail heaven! If you haven’t made a whiskey sour before, and want to try a base cocktail before you go into this variation, I highly recommend our basic whiskey sour recipe.

To start, muddle a handful of fresh blackberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the whiskey, lemon juice, and simple syrup, along with a handful of ice. Shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds, until the cocktail is well mixed and chilled.

Next, strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a fresh blackberry or two, and a sprig of fresh mint, if desired. And that’s it – you’re ready to enjoy your delicious Blackberry Whiskey Sour!

Whiskey Sour Variations:

• For a sweeter version, add an additional 1/2 oz. of simple syrup.
• For a stronger version, add an additional 1 oz. of whiskey.
• Sparkling Blackberry Whiskey Sour – Top off your Blackberry Whiskey Sour with 1/2 cup of a nice sparkling water like Topo Chico. This will make the drink wonderfully bubbly.
• Blended Blackberry Whiskey Sour – Buy frozen blackberries (or freeze your handpicked berries), double the amount of blackberries you add to this cocktail, and blend with ice. Once the blackberries are broken up in your blender, add whiskey, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
• Peach Whiskey Sour – You literally can’t get more summery than this. Our peach whiskey sour recipe is a great variation on this cocktail.
• Maple Whiskey Sour – This variation provides a wonderful alternative sweetener to the Whiskey Sour, in the form of maple syrup. Maple Whiskey Sour recipe here.

Blackberry Whiskey Sour Tips:

• Blackberries – I always recommend fresh-picked blackberries for this recipe. But if you don’t have these on-hand, go for frozen blackberries at the grocery store. Do not get non-frozed blackberries from the store unless you know exactly how long they’ve been sitting on the shelf. (Learning about the nutritional difference between frozen and fresh fruit is a fascinating rabbit hole).
• Whiskey – I recommend using a mellow, wheated whiskey like Makers Mark or Weller Special Reserve (if you can get your hands on it). The flavor profile of many aged and oaky bourbons might class with the tartness of the blackberries. (Liquor.com has a great rundown of the best wheated bourbons to get here.)
• Adjust the sweetness and strength of the cocktail to your liking.
• Serve over ice for a refreshing summer cocktail.

So there you have it – a delicious and easy recipe for a Blackberry Whiskey Sour that’s sure to impress. Whether you’re sipping it on your front porch on a warm summer evening, or serving it up to guests at your next dinner party, this cocktail is the perfect way to enjoy the bold flavor of whiskey with a fruity twist.