Blackberry on Rye

Updated November 22, 2024

I’m often surprised I don’t see more wine cocktails. Sure, there’s sangria, mimosas and the like, but wine can also hold a variety of the characteristics we seek in a good everyday mixing ingredient: acidity, sweetness, and aroma. For this wine cocktail I wanted intense dark fruit flavors. Muddled blackberries evoke the jamminess of the wine, which paired well with the spice of a bold rye whiskey.

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Blackberry on Rye

For this cocktail, muddled blackberries evoke the jamminess of the red wine, which pairs well with the spiciness of a bold rye whiskey.

Servings: 1 cocktail

INGREDIENTS

• 1 oz rye whiskey
• 1 1/2 oz red wine
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 3 blackberries

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add blackberries and simple syrup to your mixing glass and softly muddle, just enough to break apart the blackberries. Add the remaining ingredients.
2. Fill your mixing glass with ice and shake for 10 seconds, until frothy and icy cold. Double-strain through a fine mesh strainer over ice into an old-fashioned glass. Double-straining prevents the berry seeds/pulp from clouding the drink and getting stuck in your teeth.
3. Garnish with a few blackberries and enjoy.

NOTES

For the red wine in this recipe, use something full-bodied and fruit-forward. I used a Cabernet Sauvignon, but a Merlot or a Malbec might also make for a good choice.

(images by HonestlyYUM)