Carbondale Sunset Bourbon Smash
A rich and fruity bourbon cocktail with fresh berries and a splash of soda, inspired by lively evenings in Carbondale's dining scene. This recipe, ready in about 7 minutes, brings together bourbon, fresh blackberries, fresh lemon juice 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 210 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 bourbon
- 4 fresh blackberries
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz club soda
- 6 mint leaves
- 1 cup ice cubes
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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 mixing glass, muddle 4 fresh blackberries and 6 mint leaves with 0.5 oz simple syrup until juices release.
- Step 2: Add 2 oz bourbon, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, and fill the glass with 1 cup ice cubes.
- Step 3: Stir gently with a bar spoon for 30 seconds until well chilled and diluted.
- Step 4: Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over fresh large ice cubes.
- Step 5: Top with 1 oz club soda and give a gentle stir to combine.
- Step 6: Garnish with a sprig of mint and a blackberry skewered on a pick resting on the rim.
