This non-alcoholic blackberry and basil cocktail is simple and surprisingly refreshing.
When you are looking for something special to drink but want to avoid the alcohol, a mocktail can be just the ticket. This drink uses fresh blackberries and basil muddled with a little aged balsamic vinegar. A simple pour over that muddled blackberry mixture with some seltzer water, a squeeze of lime or lemon juice and some simple syrup is so refreshing!
What You’ll Need:
- blackberries
- fresh basil
- balsamic vinegar (thicker and aged is better)
- sugar
- water
- lime
- seltzer water
Making the Recipe:
You’ll start by making a simple syrup to add sweetness to this drink. Simple syrup is made by combining a sweetener (cane sugar, honey or maple syrup all work fine) with water in equal parts. Bring them to a boil to dissolve the sugar and then let it rest to cool.
While the simple syrup cools, muddle together the blackberries, basil and the balsamic vinegar until it forms a syrup or jam.
Next, you’ll transfer 1-2 tablespoons of the blackberry mixture to a small mesh sieve. Hold the mesh sieve over a glass or cocktail shaker and pour the seltzer water over the mixture. The juices will run into the glass. Add some freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice and a tablespoon or more of the simply syrup to balance the tartness to your taste.
Add some ice to the glass and garnish with a lime slice before serving.
Blackberry Basil Balsamic Mocktail
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: beverages
- Method: hand mix
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This non-alcoholic blackberry and basil cocktail is simple and surprisingly refreshing.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cane sugar (or honey or maple syrup)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup blackberries
- 3 basil leaves
- 1 tsp. aged balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 4 oz. lemon ginger seltzer water (or ginger beer)
Instructions
- Start by making the simple syrup. Combine equal parts water and sugar, bring to a boil and then simmer gently until the sugar is dissolved.
- Muddle the blackberries, basil and balsamic in a glass or small bowl until it is a jam or syrup consistency. Transfer 1-2 Tbsp. of the mixture to a small sieve.
- Hold the sieve over a glass and pour the seltzer water over the blackberry mixture into the glass. Add the lime juice and 1 Tbsp. of simple syrup and stir. Taste and add more syrup or lime juice to your taste.
- Add some ice to the glass and garnish with a lime slice before serving.
Notes
- Substitute ginger beer for the seltzer water, if you prefer.
- If you don’t have flavored seltzer available, use a plain seltzer and add a little ginger juice to it, along with some additional lime or lemon juice.
- If you don’t want to bother making simple syrup, just add a little maple syrup to your glass. Simple syrup will keep in the refrigerator for months, if you make it.