It’s safe to say that bourbon is one of those thing I WANT to be cool enough to drink.  Ha!  No, but seriously, it’s hard for me to drink.  Over the years I’ve really tried to become a bourbon drinker.  It’s just not one of those drinks that goes down easy for me.  But I have to tell you…this citrus bourbon cocktail is the very first bourbon drink that I can genuinely enjoy. 

First things first: I needed to wrap my head around bourbon vs. whiskey.  If you ARE a bourbon drinker, however, then you’ll already know the difference between just any old bourbon and whiskey.  All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Here, I used bourbon whiskey from Greenville’s Six and Twenty Distillery that we visited earlier this year.  Per the rules of a true bourbon, this spirit was stored in new charred-oak barrels.  And it was made with grains all from South Carolina; corn, soft red winter wheat, barley, rye and rice to be exact.  It’s a difference—even a new brand new bourbon lover like me—can taste. 

But let’s talk recipe now, shall we?!  I think the reason I love this cocktail so much is the pairing of the fresh citrus juice with the warm, smoky and smooth taste of the bourbon.  When it comes to citrus in a recipe like this, it doesn’t matter if you use lemon, lime, orange or all of the above.  I used a combination of all three as I had a lot around the house, but I assure you that you’ll get the same effect if you use one or all. It really is a great fall drink, and it would be simple to put a few down before you know it. 

Tell me, are you a bourbon drinker?!  I’d say this citrus bourbon cocktail would make a bourbon fan out of anyone!  Truly, MKR

P.S. For more cozy fall recipes, be sure to check out our Recipe Index. xo 

 
Okay, so I admit it I originally wanted to make a Blackberry Bourbon Smash because of how beautiful it is.  While I do enjoy a sip of Bourbon every now and then, I would never call myself an actual bourbon lover.  But once I smashed and swirled up a BBS or Blackberry Bourbon Smash, I was surprised at how much  I loved it, plus it didn’t hurt that it was really fun to make.  And bonus a Blackberry Bourbon Smash is definitely one of those cocktails that appears more impressive and difficult to whip up than it actually is, which makes it perfect when entertaining guests.

While the recipe in itself is on the simpler side there are a few things to note.  First, the key to a great Blackberry Bourbon Smash is definitely the ice.  You want that perfectly shaved ice that makes you almost feel like you’re eating a snow cone. So where do you find this ice, you ask?  I’ll let you in on a secret: if you have a local Whole Foods, the seafood department will give it to you for free.  Just be sure to ask for the ice that’s NOT touching the fish! 

Another important part to this smash is the fresh, high quality blackberries.  They’re really the hero to this cocktail story, so it’s worth using high quality, organic blackberries at the height of the season. Once you snag your black berries the rest is pertty simple: muddle the blackberries with fresh mint, pour the mixture into your glass, top it with shaved ice, add bourbon, stir, garnish, and enjoy.  One quick note; if you are a regular bourbon drinker, you’ll probably opt for no simple syrup, but if you need a little something sweet to combat the bourbon, just dd simple syrup to taste.  Though I’d suggest waiting until after you stir together your blackberry mixture, bourbon and ice to see if you need the simple syrup…I actually enjoyed the drink without.  Cheers, friends!  Truly, MKR