Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade

I've been MIA lately, due to some serious (and unsuccessful) house hunting. It's been completely overtaking my brain, so I really need to force myself to focus on other things.

So today I wanted to share a great summery cocktail: the blackberry bourbon lemonade. It's a delicious mix of sparkling lemonade, blackberry and rosemary simple syrup, and of course, bourbon.

This makes a great drink for a summer party, due to it’s all American ingredients (bourbon, lemonade) and it’s festive red color (which you can make red, white, and blue with the addition of a blackberry garnish), and its big-batch recipe that makes 12 drinks.

 

Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade, originally from Better Homes and Gardens

Here I'm providing the 1 gallon big batch version, click the link above for a single serving size. 

3 cups bourbon
2/3 cups lemon juice
1 recipe blackberry rosemary simple syrup (below)
4 cups sparkling lemonade
Blackberries, for garnish

Combine bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Stir. Add sparkling lemonade and garnish with blackberries.

Makes 12 5oz servings.

Blackberry Rosemary Simple Syrup
12 oz fresh blackberries
1 1/2 tbsp rosemary, roughly chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 sugar

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 25 minutes, until blackberries are breaking down and the liquid is syrupy and reduced by half.  Mash the blackberries into the liquid with a wooden spoon towards the end of cooking.  Strain through a fine strainer, pressing on the berries to extract juice. Let cool, and store in fridge for up to one week.