I love a good classic cocktail, and gin and tonics are one of my favorite. Classic cocktails are also a great base upon which to build new and interesting cocktail recipes. In my Blackberry Sage Gin and Tonics, the traditional gin and tonic drink gets a sweet upgrade with blackberries!
Will the winter be over soon? Here’s hoping! I’d like to think that making “spring-ish” drinks could help usher in the season sooner 🙂 These G+T’s are based on a traditional gin and tonic cocktail. Blackberries are muddled with a sage simple syrup and a little bit of lemon juice before adding gin. The drink is topped with San Pelligrino, but regular club soda or tonic water would also work if you prefer.
I also am a big fan of garnishes on my cocktails, and I saw this little trick in a BHG magazine recently. You take two toothpicks and stick them through your garnish with just a bit of space between them, and then slide it over the rim of the glass. And voila: a sophisticated looking garnish that doesn’t have to be readjusted each time you take a sip!
Now it’s your turn: what is your favorite spin on a classic cocktail? Let me know by commenting below, or make your cocktail creation and tag @thecharmingdetroiter on Instagram!
- 4-5 blackberries, plus extra for garnish
- ½ oz. sage simple syrup (recipe below)
- Splash of lemon juice
- 1 ½ oz. gin
- San Pellegrino
- Sage leaves, for garnish (optional)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 bunch sage leaves
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat and add the sage leaves. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove sage and strain into a glass container for storage. Store syrup in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.
- Fill a tumbler with ice water and set aside. In a cocktail shaker, muddle blackberries with sage simple syrup and lemon juice. Fill shaker with ice. Add gin and shake for 30 seconds. Pour ice water out of chilled tumbler and fill with ice. Strain contents of shaker into tumbler. Top with San Pellegrino and garnish with blackberries and/or sage leaf if desired. Enjoy!