Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail
Perfectly refreshing and full of summer-flavor, this Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail is the perfect drink for any summertime occasion! This delicious drink features a deeply sweet blackberry rhubarb syrup that is rich in color and very fruity in taste! Add a little vodka and ice to the syrup and finish it off with fresh, fragrant mint and a squeeze of lime, and you’ve got yourself one incredibly delicious cocktail!
What is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a sour vegetable that has a texture similar to celery and a taste similar to sour apples. Rhubarb makes for an excellent contrast to the sweet blackberries! I prefer to use the thinner rhubarb stalk, however if you can only find the large, wide ones just split them in half lengthwise.
Making the Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail Syrup
The base of this Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail is, of course, the homemade Blackberry Rhubarb Syrup! This syrup is easy to make, delicious, and it freezes easily for future use! To make the syrup, start by prepping the rhubarb. I like to chop the rhubarb into 1/2” slices – that way it breaks down a little bit easier in the cooking process. Now, simply just add the rhubarb, blackberries, sugar, and water to a medium sauce pan. Heat the mixture over medium heat and allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes.
When it is ready, the mixture should be thickened and like a loose-jam in texture. Grab a fine-mesh sieve and strain the pulp and seeds out of the syrup, leaving behind a richly-colored and delicious Blackberry Rhubarb Syrup! Let the syrup cool in the fridge for an hour or two before using, or using a sealed container (such as a mason jar), place into the freezer for future use.
Livening up the Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail with mint
One of my favorite garnishes for cocktails, is a small bouquet of fresh mint! The mint adds a beautiful aromatic experience to cocktails, helping to waken up our senses and freshening up the cocktail! You may not realize this, but mint actually needs to be “woken up”. This means the mint needs to essentially be slapped to bring out it’s essential oils, thereby making it more aromatic. The majority of the mints scent is kept in it’s aromatic oils. Therefore, it is crucial to release the oils to allow the mint to live up to its full potential. Simply just place the mint leave in your one hand, and slap it with your other. You will instantly smell the mint wake up!
Substitutions
• Raspberries will work well in place of blackberries
◦ Frozen blackberries may be used, just ensure that you thaw them first!
• Gin can be used in place of vodka, if you prefer that flavor.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktails
Ingredients
Blackberry Rhubarb Syrup
- 1 cup Blackberries
- 1/2 cup Chopped Rhubarb
- 1 cup Water
- 1 cup White Sugar
Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail
- 1 ½ oz Vodka
- 1 ½ oz Blackberry Rhubarb Syrup
- Club Soda
- 1 Lime Wedge
- Fresh Mint,, for garnish
Instructions
Blackberry Rhubarb Syrup
- Add blackberries, rhubarb, water, and sugar, to a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Allow the mixture to simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and strain the seeds and fruit pulp out using a fine-mesh sieve.
- Place the syrup into the fridge to cool for 1-2 hours.
Blackberry Rhubarb Vodka Cocktail
- In a highball glass filled with ice, add vodka and blackberry rhubarb syrup. Fill the remainder of the glass with club soda, then squeeze lime wedge into the drink. Stir to combine.
- Using your hands, slap your mint garnish between your palms to “wake up” the mint flavor. Add this garnish to the top of the cocktail and enjoy.
