Blackberry Old Fashioned

Let's sip on a fresh, seasonal take on everyone's favorite bourbon cocktail with this blackberry old fashioned! I just love how a fresh blackberry simple syrup and citrusy orange bitters give this classic bourbon drink the perfect spring and summer makeover. Best of all, it just takes minutes to mix and requires no advanced bartending skills, so we can be on a patio with a drink in hand in no time.

Course Beverages

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Steeping Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings drink

Calories 211kcal

Author Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

Small saucepan
Fine-mesh sieve
Jigger or small measuring cup
Bar spoon

Ingredients

Blackberry Simple Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 cup blackberries fresh or frozen

Blackberry Old Fashioned

2 ounces bourbon
½ ounce blackberry simple syrup
2-3 dashes orange bitters

Instructions

Blackberry Simple Syrup

Combine the white sugar, water and blackberries in a small saucepan. Over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer and then a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
Once the mixture boils and the sugar dissolves, turn off the heat. Use a potato masher or fork to break down the blackberries. Let the mixture steep for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour.
Place a bowl or measuring cup under a fine-mesh sieve or strainer. Strain the blackberries from the liquid and discard the solids. The liquid is your simple syrup. Allow to cool and then store in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator.

Blackberry Old Fashioned

Add the bourbon, blackberry simple syrup and bitters to an old fashioned glass.
Place a large ice cube in the glass. Using a bar spoon, stir the mixture to chill and slightly melt the ice, about 20 seconds.
If desired, garnish with additional fresh blackberries. Enjoy!

Notes

How to batch 12 servings for a party: Stir together 3 cups bourbon, ¾ cup blackberry simple syrup, ½ cup water and 10-12 dashes bitters in a pitcher. The water accounts for dilution we’d get from stirring. You’ll also notice we don’t use quite as many bitters. That’s because they intensify as they sit, so we dial it back just a bit. Cover and refrigerate. To serve, pour over ice. Alternatively, you can make multiple drinks at once by using a mixing glass.

You can store leftover blackberry simple syrup in a sterile, airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition