Blackberry Spritzer Recipes

Steps:

• For the sipping vinegar: Mash the blackberries and sugar together in a bowl, cover and refrigerate for 2 days, stirring occasionally. Add the vinegar to the macerated blackberries and refrigerate for another day. Press the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, discarding the solids. Transfer your sipping vinegar to a container.
• For the herbal tea: Combine the ginger and 2 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the tea bags and turn off the heat. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes, then strain and cool.
• For the spritzer: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 2 ounces blackberry sipping vinegar, 2 ounces cooled herbal tea, 1/2 ounce lemon juice and 1/2 ounce elderflower syrup. Shake vigorously and pour over a glass filled with ice. Top off with some seltzer and garnish with 3 cucumber slices, 1 ginger coin and a mint sprig. Repeat.

Steps:

• Place blackberries, raspberries, simple syrup, grape juice, and lemon juice in the jar of a blender; puree until smooth. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve, discarding solids.
• Fill 8 Collins glasses with ice, if using. Divide mixture evenly between glasses; top with seltzer or wine and serve immediately garnished with fruit skewers, if desired.

Steps:

• In cocktail shaker, place sugar and water; stir until sugar is dissolved.
• Cut 8 of the blackberries into quarters; add to shaker. Add lemon juice, gin and 2 of the basil leaves. Fill shaker with ice. Cover tightly with shaker lid; shake vigorously.
• Strain mixture into 2 cocktail glasses filled with ice. Top each glass with 1/2 cup club soda. Garnish each with 1 whole blackberry and 1 basil leaf. Serve immediately.