Blackberry Gimlet

I always felt like blackberries were the most elegant of the berries. Their deep purple color just felt very mysterious to me. Would they be sweet? Or maybe sour? This drink calls for a little bit of both!

Peak blackberry season is June and July though you can usually find them year round. Look for berries with a shine to their skin as dullness is a sign of age (brb, going to buy a new night cream).

While the muddled blackberries give this cocktail a gorgeous crimson color, it’s really the purple Empress Gin that makes it pop. I love using this gin for the flavor but especially for the color. It really changes things up and adds an element of delight.

What makes Empress Gin so purple?

Empress gin has butterfly pea blossoms added late in the distillation process which gives it its famous indigo color. Butterfly pea flowers react with acidic ingredients like like lemon juice to create a color changing effect. It can turn a light violet, pink or can be used to create a gradient effect.

This sexy drink is perfect for a date at home or even a night where you just need some alone time. Its sophistication is best felt when served in a coup. You may or may not feel like you’re in a speakeasy when serving this drink to a few friends in a dimly lit room.

For more Empress Gin recipes, click here.

Print Recipe

3.29 from 7 votes

Blackberry Gimlet

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 5 blackberries

Instructions

• Muddle blackberries in the bottle of a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice, gin, lime juice and syrup.
• Shake and strain into a chilled coupe.
• Garnish with fresh blackberries and mint.