Last weekend I was cleaning out my freezer and came across a bottle of gin that I didn’t even know was in there. Like seriously: how did that bottle of gin come to be in the freezer? I don’t think I’ve ever bought a bottle of gin before, and my last memory of drinking gin was long before I lived in this house. Maybe someone brought it to a party we hosted? Who knows…
Needless to say, I didn’t think I was particularly fond of gin until last week. Out of curiosity, I did some research on how gin is made, and found out it’s been used medicinally for centuries; Juniper Berries have all sorts of health benefits including reducing joint pain, helping regulate your menstrual cycle, and aiding in digestion. Who knew?
Intrigued, I decided I should pour some into my glass of kombucha to have with dinner, and instantly fell in love with its herbacious, pine-y flavor. The mellow flavor of the gin paired with bubbly, crisp kombucha was a perfect match; I even made myself another drink the following night, which is rare for me. Seriously. I’m lucky if I drink alcohol once a month, let alone twice in one week.
Then, I happened to walk past a giant display of organic blackberries on sale at the grocery store the next day and instantly knew what I needed to do: smash them up with mint and lime juice, stir in my new-found favorite gin and kombucha combo, and kick off summer with a pretty pink drink in hand.
Trust me, it’s the right thing to do.
This recipe yields one drink, since I suspect most of us don’t actually make drinks by the pitcher-ful anymore. Though, if you need a fun drink for a barbeque, shower, or wedding, multiplying the recipe by 6 would definitely fill up a big pitcher or drink dispenser.
I hope you love this simple, 5-ingredient cocktail as much as I do. It’s fresh, herbaceous, a little sweet, and perfectly summery. And, while I may have a newfound love for gin’s unique flavor, this drink is just as tasty if you leave it out. Virgin cocktail hour anyone? I’m in.
Blackberry Kombucha Gin Fizz
Ingredients
- 4-6 large blackberries about 1/4 cup
- 4-6 fresh mint leaves
- juice of half a lime
- 1 ounce 2 Tablespoons gin
- 8 ounces ginger kombucha*
- ice to fill your glass
Instructions
- 1. Put blackberries, mint leaves, and lime juice into a 16-ounce glass. Use a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon to crush the berries and mint.
- 2. Add enough ice to fill the cup, then pour in the gin and kombucha. Stir to combine, and drink immediately.
Notes
Yes, please.