Blackberry Sage Whiskey Smash

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Last Updated on October 14, 2023 by Leah Hall

What better advice for Father’s Day than Sage Advice? This Blackberry Sage Whiskey Smash is the perfect summer cocktail!

If you have an abundance of fresh summer berries and herbs from your garden like we do, then we have a great cocktail for you! Using the savory herb, sage, as well as fresh blackberries, we have an easy 4 ingredient smash cocktail! The smash cocktail is one of the classic cocktails, and we love to make them, because they are a simple and easy recipe!

Try our Bourbon Peach Smash, Strawberry Sage Tequila Smash, Blueberry Smash or Blackberry Gin Smash! This flavor combination would be great as a Blackberry Sage Margarita, too!

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Rye Whiskey Smash Cocktail

Rye whiskey was our preferred whiskey for this cocktail. We wanted something that would stand up to the strong flavors of the fresh sage. Rye whiskey has to be a grain mixture that is at least 51% rye.

This rye whiskey is aged in new charred-oak barrels and bottled at no less than 80 proof (40% ABV). This can make for flavors of oak, vanilla and caramel. There can be varying levels of “spiciness”, some ryes are even rounder and less spicy, but we wanted a richer rye for this recipe. If there is corn in the mash, this adds sweetness, which is what we want some of.

Some brands we recommend for your rye whiskey smash would be George Dickel Rye, Uncle Nearest Rye, High West Double Rye, Templeton Rye, or Angel’s Envy Finished Rye. Try our Rye Opener, a simple rye whiskey cocktail, too!

Ingredients Needed for the Blackberry Sage Whiskey Smash?

• Rye Whiskey – again, you want a “spicier” rye whiskey. This means some sweetness, but not sweeter like bourbon. This will help the sage to stand out, and plays well with the berries, too! See our brand suggestions above.
• Sage Simple Syrup – of course we always promote making your own simple syrup at home, and this sage simple syrup is no exception. Easy to make, and so much flavor, this herbal syrup adds so much to this rye whiskey frink, and makes it easy to mix up!
• Lemon Juice – as always, fresh squeezed lemon juice is best!
• Blackberries – fresh berries are best for this smash, but if you only have frozen, they will work, too! Try them in our Pisco Smash, too!

How to Make the Blackberry Sage Cocktail?

This Blackberry Sage Cocktail uses the tasty combination of rye whiskey and blackberries and adds a fresh sage syrup to bring a fragrant hint of herbaceous evergreen. Similar to the classic whiskey sour, the addition of the blackberries and sage syrup dresses it up to make a drink that is manly but with a bit of a soft side just like dear old dad!

To make this simple cocktail, you need to “smash” the berries, lemon juice and simple syrup together in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. This means you muddle the berries until they break down release their juices to mix with the syrup and lemon juice.

From there, add ice and the rye whiskey to the shaker, and shake! Double strain (this means with a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer) to remove the seeds from your drink. Poured over ice in a rocks glass, you have a beautiful and tasty refreshing rye cocktail.

Garnish with more berries and sage for a lovely and fragrant drink.

Try another fragrant drink with our Smoked Cherry!

Tips & Tricks

• Double Straining – this is an important step for this cocktail so you don’t end up with seeds in your drink. I mean, if that’s your thing, do it. But, using a Hawthorne strainer over the top of your cocktail shaker as well as a fine mesh strainer over the rocks glass, you will remove the seeds from your cocktail. We think it’s necessary. Try our other smashes like Rhubarb Basil Smash or Peach Basil Gin Smash, too!
• Sage Simple Syrup – our sage syrup recipe is easy to make, just plan ahead to have it at least room temperature before mixing up this cocktail. Hot syrup will just melt your ice and dilute your drink too much.
• Other Flavors – if you don’t like cocktails with sage or have sage available for the syrup, try mint or basil instead. We have a mint syrup and a basil syrup, too! Same goes for the berries. If you don’t have blackberries, try strawberries or blueberries instead! Try lime juice instead of lemon juice. If you want this whiskey smash to become lighter and effervescent, feel free to add some carbonation. Ginger beer would be lovely in these cocktail recipes, just pour an ounce or 2 on the top of your drink.
• Garnish – fresh blackberries or sage leaves are perfect for this! But, you can also use a lemon wedge!

Cheers!

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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

Blackberry Sage Kentucky Mule

Cherry Ginger Smash

Other Sage Cocktails

• Smoked Sage Cocktail – A Charming Detroiter
• Sage Gold Rush – Brooklyn Supper
• Sage Bee’s Knees – Salt & Wind
• Whiskey Sage – The Recipe Wench
• Sage Gin Martini – Mantitlement

Other Rye Whiskey Cocktails

• Candied Cranberry Rye Smash – Feast in Thyme
• Brooklyn Cocktail – Blossom to Stem
• Rye Mule – Kitchen Magpie
• The Hummingbird – Sumptuous Living
• Boulevardier

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Blackberry Sage Cocktail

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

This Blackberry Sage Cocktail is a lovely combination of herbs and berries with rye whiskey for dad! One of our great rye whiskey drinks!

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Ingredients

Sage Blackberry Cocktail

• 2 ounces Rye Whiskey
• 1 ounce sage simple syrup
• 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 6 blackberries
• extra blackberries and sage leaves for garnish

Instructions

Muddle blackberries with lemon juice and sage simple syrup in a shaker.

Add Rye and ice cubes. Shake.

Pour over ice in a rocks glass.

Top with garnish of sage leaf and some blackberries.

Cheers!

Notes

Clap the sage leaves between your hands to release the oils and make the sage leaves much more fragrant before putting the garnish on.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 197Total Fat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 17.8gFiber: 2gSugar: 16.1gProtein: 0.6g

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