Take a sip of this cocktail and you’ll get a noseful of rose petals. We added a dash of rose water and a few sprigs of thyme to our blackberry simple syrup. They give the intensely fruity syrup a delicate spring lilt. Shaken up with vodka, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice, it creates a luminous pink concoction. We love it for its sweet, ponderous complexity — lightly fruity, mildly herbaceous, a little floral — and surprisingly bright finish.
Blackberry Rose
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 8 thyme sprigs
- 1 tsp rose water
- ¾ oz blackberry rose simple syrup
- 1 oz St. Germain elderflower liqueur
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Ice
- Blackberries and thyme sprigs, for garnish
For the blackberry-rose simple syrup:
For the cocktail:
Directions
- To make the simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the blackberries, sugar, water, and thyme. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved.
- Strain the simple syrup into a bowl, discarding the berries and thyme sprigs, and allow it to cool.
- Add the rose water, stir gently to combine, and pour it into a sealable container. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Leftovers will keep for up to 2 weeks.
- To make the cocktail: In a cocktail shaker, combine all of the ingredients with ice. Shake heartily for 15 to 20 seconds.
- Fill a rocks glass with ice, and strain the cocktail over it. Garnish with fresh blackberries and a sprig of thyme.
Pairings for blackberry
The blackberry rose pairs beautifully with Brie and double cream cheeses — its lemony finish will cut right through all that cream. We also like how the cocktail brings out the floral notes in a mild blue cheese, like Stilton.