Blackberry-Basil Smash with Lemon and Vodka
A vibrant cocktail that marries juicy blackberries and fresh basil with crisp vodka and bright lemon, shaken to chill and served over crushed ice. This recipe, ready in about 7 minutes, brings together vodka, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 170 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 5 fresh blackberries
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- as needed crushed ice
- 1 basil sprig
- 1 blackberry
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a cocktail shaker, muddle 5 fresh blackberries with 6 fresh basil leaves until the berries break down and the basil releases aroma.
- Step 2: Add 2 oz vodka, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 3/4 oz simple syrup to the shaker.
- Step 3: Fill the shaker with ice cubes to the brim and shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the tin frosts.
- Step 4: Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice and double strain the cocktail over it to remove pulp and basil bits.
- Step 5: Garnish by skewering 1 fresh blackberry and a small basil sprig on a pick, resting it across the glass rim.
