This berry cocktail is loaded with fresh blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, plus a whole lot of mint and a splash of gin. The perfect summer drink!
What’s your favorite berry? I’m pretty sure that’s one of life’s most impossible to answer questions (I’d put it right up there with “what came first, the chicken or the egg?”).
I could never give you a straight answer; at least not one that would hold true from day to day. I mean, today my favorite berry is the red raspberry, but tomorrow? Tomorrow it will probably be the blueberry or maybe the blackberry… But probably the strawberry.
It’s a pointless question and will really only serve to drive people nuts as they try to honestly answer. And does it really matter? Can’t we just go with: berries are delicious and summery and perfect and omg stop asking ridiculous questions already? Sounds like a plan.
Another question I prefer you don’t ask? What’s your favorite liquor? I guess maybe some people have one, but my favorite completely depends on my mood and the day and the weather and probably even the level of humidity in the atmosphere. Today, it’s gin. But really only because I made this cocktail with it and I’m in love with everything about this cocktail. Tomorrow, I might try it with vodka instead.
I love these berry baskets Crisp Cooking sent me and I’ve been keeping them like this in my fridge (packed with freshly washed red raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries) and we’ve been snacking on them regularly. Having berries on display like this makes us much more likely to eat them than when we have them all packed away. Also more likely? The chance that I'll make a spur-of-the-moment berry cocktail!
BERRY MINT GIN SMASH COCKTAIL RECIPE
I originally wanted to make a berry mojito, but I decided I wanted the berries to be the star of the show and didn’t want to add any muddled mint in. So, I made a fresh mint simple syrup instead.
Follow the directions below, but also be sure to check out my full post on how to make mint simple syrup, which includes a video on the process.
All you need to do is combine the sugar, water, and about 12 fresh mint leaves in a medium-sized saucepan over high heat. Bring mixture to a boil.
Then lower the heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes to thicken. Remove syrup to a jar or bowl and cool to room temperature.
Add 2 strawberries, 6 red raspberries, and 4 blackberries to the bottom of a cocktail shaker. You can add more berries if you want, but I can tell you from experience that if you add too many, you'll have a tough time straining the drink into a glass. Then again, a little pulp is never a bad thing in my book!
Muddle the berries as much as you can. Then add in 4 oz. gin and 1 ½ oz. mint simple syrup.
Add some ice to the shaker. And then strain the mixture into two glasses filled with crushed ice. Top the glasses off with soda water for a little fizz.
I most definitely recommend making a garnish, too. I just stuck the berries and some mint leaves onto a little skewer.
And now some of my very favorite berries have come together into one berry cocktail, which is basically a dream come true. No more decision making! I’m the worst at decision making. I sometimes use the excuse that I’m a libra and I know that makes me sound a little crazy, but seriously, I embody basically every libra characteristic.
This berry cocktail is pretty much summer in a glass. While this recipe serves two, I am seriously thinking about just muddling berries in a large pitcher and serving this up for a summer party. Can’t you just imagine sipping a gin berry cocktail outside in the hot weather? Heaven.
We just ordered brand new deck furniture and I cannot wait to get it… Many of these drinks will be consumed on our deck this summer.
If you’re not a big fan of gin, you could totally swap it out for your liquor of choice. Vodka would be really delicious in this berry cocktail…. So would a light rum. So would other berries for that matter. I almost quadrupled it up and added blueberries, but I thought that might be going overboard. And I'll probably make this same drink with cranberries, come the holiday season.
The mint flavors came through a bit, but definitely weren't overpowering. I kind of loved the simple syrup as the berry pulp was enough without the lingering mint leaves. And the soda water gave the berry cocktail a light and refreshing fizz- I'm all about bubbly cocktails this time of the year!
But my favorite thing about this berry cocktail is probably the color. It's a beautifully vibrant red due to the ridiculously fresh berries that are announcing to us that summer really is just around the corner. Pretty sure just about everyone is excited for that. I have vowed to not complain about the heat AT ALL this summer. After the Boston winter we had, I will be perfectly content in 100 degree weather, so long as I can sit on my deck and sip one of these. Bring it on!
What's your favorite berry to turn into a cocktail? Muhaha yes, I'm making you answer!
If you like this berry cocktail, be sure to check out my Tropical Cranberry Sangria and my Cherry Lime Margarita. I also love this gorgeous Charred Cherry Whiskey Lemonade from Host the Toast!
📖 Recipe
Berry Mint Gin Smash
Ingredients
- 2 large strawberries
- 6 red raspberries
- 4 blackberries
- 4 oz. gin
- 1 ½ oz. mint simple syrup (recipe below)
- Ice
- Soda water
Mint Simple Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 12 mint leaves
Instructions
- Put strawberries, red raspberries, and blackberries into the bottom of a cocktail shaker and muddle well.
- Add gin and mint simple syrup to shaker and fill with ice.
- Shake well and strain into 2 glasses filled with crushed ice.
- Top with soda water.
Mint Simple Syrup
- Combine sugar, water, and fresh mint leaves in a medium-sized saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil
- Lower heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes, until syrup thickens.
- Remove syrup to jar or bowl and let cool to room temperature.
Notes
Hillary says
Blueberries!!!
Marcie says
Love the raspberries
Mandy says
My favorite berries (today) are blackberries.
Eva says
cloudberries but I can't get them where I live so raspberries
Ang says
These a super cute and perfect for my berry loving toddler!
Ang says
Oops and I love raspberries! My daughter is partial to blueberries (this week)
LisaR. says
Blueberries are my fav!
Shannon says
Raspberries are my favorite!
Allison says
I seriously love all berries but I am especially fond of blueberries (I spent a summer working on an orchard picking blueberries and probably ate half of the ones I picked).
Erica says
Ah. I love all berries but raspberries are my favorite right now. This drink looks so pretty and sounds delicious.
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
Those crisps are so gorgeous, every single color 🙂 AND the smash cocktails are so delicious sounding, my favorite berries are raspberries or strawberries!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Strawberries!! Those baskets are so cute!!
Anie U says
Picking my favorite berry is pretty easy since I only really eat two kinds --> blueberry!!!!!
Sarah L says
I'm so glad that you said we could choose our favorite berry of the day! It's so hard to pick one favorite. Today I'll have to say strawberries because we recently ate some delicious ones!
Erin W says
blueberries!
Nicole says
I live blackberries!
Stacey Roberson says
Mmm, mmm. I love strawberries! This recipe looks yummy!
Angie says
My all-time favorite is little wild Maine blueberries. So delicious!
Kylie W says
Either strawberries or blueberries - so hard to choose!
Rae says
Blackberries...in ice cream, as a water enhancer, whipped into a tangy-sweet frosting, or in just plain old berry form, they are the best!
Lexi says
YUM! This sounds so good, but I am just not a gin girl...I'd have to swap in vodka...but, I suppose I'd try it with gin first, to be fair...
My berries of choice are strawberries...followed closely by raspberries 🙂
Allison says
Raspberries....can't wait to try this drink!
Andrea H says
Raspberries are my favorite for now. They have been on sale the past week.:-)
katelin says
Raspberries are my favorite berries! Seriously, these are too cute & this recipe looks delicious!
Juliana says
Delicious cocktail...especially with gin and fresh berries...oh! yes, and mint...looks do refreshing and very pretty.
Thanks for the recipe Sues...
Have a great week 🙂
Bill says
Blackberries for sure
Odetta says
I love all the berries in this- especially raspberries! The baskets are too cute!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Oh this drink looks so refreshing and just perfect, Sues! I love the berry and mint combo. I could totally go for a cocktail right now, and it's only 6am! 🙂
Barbara says
Yum on that drink! I might even wander from my favorite gin and tonics. Hopefully, the healthy fruit will make up for the gin. 🙂
Love the cute berry baskets!
Meghan says
This looks so summery!
Monica says
I am so glad I checked in today. Not only do I see this gorgeous drink and lovely giveaway but I discovered that I won your last Crisp giveaway?! That just makes my day! Now...confession, I never used to even like berries growing up but now I'm wild for them. I'd probably pick strawberry as my favorite. : ) Thanks!
Karla says
Raspberries!
Tiffany says
Strawberries are my favorite.
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
i love all berries! my favorite one for today is blueberries. 🙂 these berry baskets are wayyy too cute!
Sara says
Oh gosh. I have to go with blackberry, but is there a berry I won't eat?
Joanne says
I'm definitely a tequila gal..but I won't say no to gin. OR all the berries. This is such a spring perfect cocktail!
Lara says
Strawberries - a lifelong favorite!
LauraHelen says
Fresh raspberries... nothing beats them!!
Beth says
I could never pick one favourite berry - but I have raspberries in the fridge now, so that's what I'm going with! Love the berry baskets.
Joyce says
Those baskets are ridiculously cute - raspberries for me!
Serena says
Raspberries. But it does change in strawberry season. My love for gin NEVER changes. I'm a gin girl through and through. Which is why I'm extra happy about this cocktail. Agree, bubbles do make even gin cocktails better.
Lori says
My favorite berry is a strawberry! I'm munching on them right now and I can't wait to go to the Strawberry Festival this year!
Emily says
Raspberries, hands down 🙂 The containers (and your drink!) look so yummy!
Myrtice Stevens says
This color is adorable. I love to have this on super hot days along with a cheesy songs. Thank you so much dear!
Romeo O. Connor says
I could never pick one favourite berry – but I have raspberries in the fridge now, so that’s what I’m going with! Love the berry baskets.
Merci Jollibee says
raspberries in the fridge now, so that’s what I’m going with! Love the berry baskets.
Kelly says
My son likes strawberry very much, I'm sure he will like this dish
Tom H. says
Wow that looks really delicious 🙂
deirdreagale says
I have no world to express my feeling right now. I love fruit and this way really makes me excited :D... I will have to make it !!!!!
Denise Schaefer says
Strawberries, recipe raspberries and blackberries!!! LOVE LOVE!!!...Just a recipe .made it just now and instantly fell in love with it!!! Great Job!! 🙂 🙂
Dominic says
Wow. Now this is really good! I didn't have blackberries so I just used 3 strawberries and 8 raspberries and I didn't have soda water so I did a splash of blackberry "sparkling ice" calorie free soda.... and these are just delicious. The mint simple syrup really adds a nice kick. Thank you for the recipe - many of these will be consumed this summer!
Racheal says
I have to say the colors attract me. They seem so delicious. This summer will come soon. I will try this recipe. My daughter will love it. Thanks so much.