Treat Yourself to This One

Berry season is something that is so easily taken for granted.

The little boxes you see in grocery stores are available all year long so we forget that this is their actual season, this is the time that they are growing everywhere in crazy, natural, flavor-packed abundance, ripening at such a rate you can hardly eat them fast enough before they go bad.

Which is why you must drink them also!

Cue invention of the refreshingly minted blackberry smash.

Note:

If you prefer a sweet drink you may want to add a drop of simple syrup but I super ripe blackberries are sweet enough so I don't recommend it.

If you don't like mint, try substituting basil vodka.

If it's a thousand degrees where you live also, don't stop and take pictures because as fast as berries ripen at this time of year, ice melts much faster.

Blackberry Mint Smash

Ingredients (1 drink)

• 2 blackberries
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 3 oz mint vodka (or basil)
• ice
• soda water

Combine

1. Start by chilling your glass in the freezer.
2. When the glass is sufficiently cold, remove it and muddle the blackberries at the bottom.  If you don't have a muddler you can use a sturdy fork, the bottom of a shot glass, or a citrus reamer.
3. Add the lemon juice, stir, then fill the glass with ice.
4. Pour in the vodka, top with soda water, add a straw and enjoy!