Prior to beginning the recipe for the drink, I would like to note that many cocktails are made best using a shaker of some sort. I have a French Shaker that requires the use of a strainer, which is seen in the video on my original post for the first installment of Booze & Books. These items are fairly easy to get from Amazon or a local spirits store and will definitely change the quality of your cocktails. Now to the recipe!
Blackberry-Gin Sour
- 1.5 oz gin
- .5 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz simple syrup
- Blackberries
- Egg White
Add blackberries and lemon juice to your shaker and muddle them together. Then add ice on top of the muddled blackberry-lemon juice mixture. Next, separate an egg, then add the egg white to the container. When shaken, the egg white will froth together with the other ingredients, creating a nice layer of foam to the top of the drink that adds the volume found in a traditional sour. After the initial shaking, add gin to the container. I chose the Seersucker Southern Style Gin which has notes of citrus, honey and mint and pairs well with the blackberries for this cocktail. Next add the simple syrup. I am only using .5 oz because the blackberries are already pretty sweet and I do not want to overwhelm the drink with sweetness: Balance is the goal. (I use a pre-made simple syrup due to convenience but it can definitely be made pretty easily with a 1:1 ratio of sugar and water dissolved together on the stove, if you’re in a “homemade” mood’.) Add the top and complete a second shake to mix everything together. Add the strainer to the top and pour the drink into the glass. Garnish with a blackberry and enjoy!
