Blueberry Smash Cocktail
I spied this cocktail while thumbing through a recent issue of Bon Appetit magazine and it sounded perfect for summer with berries, citrus and St. Germain (San-Jer-Man), an all-natural elderflower liqueur produced in France. If you have not tried St. Germain, it’s a lovely liqueur (and that includes the bottle; it is gorgeous) that is made from processing fresh, handpicked blossoms of the elderflower found in the Alps. It has a wonderful floral nose with hits of pear, peach and grapefruit zest so it’s a great pairing with many fruits, champagne and in this case, vodka.
As often happens I knew when I saw the recipe I would love to make it but I had none of the ingredients available save for the liqueur so I anticipated it would happen at a later date. You know what happens with those don’t you? Too often they never happen; an article or idea will get filed away to only be forgotten.
Why was this cocktail so lucky? Call it providence that I received my bi-weekly box of produce from Door to Door Organics just a few days after reading the article. Even though I have the option to tailor what I get in my delivery; without fail I forget what I’ve ordered and it’s always a surprise when I open my box. It’s like a gift to myself each and every two weeks! This week included beets, watermelon, nectarines, blueberries, lemons and limes…it was meant to be don’t you think?
Not unlike a mojito, it requires a bit of smashing. If you don’t have a muddler then just use the end of a wooden spoon; the more flavor you can extract from the fruits the better. This cocktail was everything I had hoped for. It is simply summer. Berries, citrus and vodka combine with the St. Germain and create a cocktail that is perfectly balanced with a definite citrus edge. Not overly sweet, it’s just right!
Blueberry Smash
Ingredients
- 2 lemons sliced into rounds
- 2 limes sliced into rounds
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves plus sprigs for garnish
- 1 ½ cups vodka
- ¾ cup St-Germain elderflower liqueur
Instructions
- Using a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon, coarsely mash lemon and lime slices, blueberries, and mint leaves in a large pitcher. Stir in vodka, St-Germain, and 2 cups of ice cubes.
- Divide drink among coupe or highball glasses; top with more ice cubes. Garnish each drink with a mint sprig.
Your drinks look so good.
This drink looks so refreshing. I’m going to work on getting the proportions right for a single serving. Any ideas? I live alone and on weekend evenings I like to have a cocktail if I’m not going out.
Well, it would be easy to halve and since there is nothing in the mixture to go flat, I would just save the remainder (without ice) in the fridge for a day or two for a second cocktail!
I can’t wait to try this tonight. I love the thought of elderflower liquer.
It is so good Kathy; sort of a new favorite of mine. One day I’ll convince you to make this HUGE trek to the burbs and I’ll make something just for you!
I totally meant to comment on this when it went up… I have been thoroughly enjoying mashing blueberries into my cocktails recently… I even like it with my bourbon 🙂
Hope you have a happy 4th!
I love them smashed…and that cocktail I would make with other berries too. I’m just trying to make sure I get my fruit each day. 🙂
Where do you get your St. Germain at?
I’ve found it on the shelf at Heritage Liquors near me in Greenwood Village which is a good size store but once I did get a smaller shop to order it for me. Some stores might not carry everything but often if you ask a manager you can have them order it for you.
It’s such a pretty color. I keep falling in love with cocktails in pretty colors.
I think summer has gorgeous cocktails because we can use fresh, seasonal fruit Katie. Come back tomorrow…a pretty watermelon Mojito for the 4th!
LOVE the name of this delish cocktail! I’m sure it will be everything I hope for too! Love your pictures, Barb!
Thanks so much…I not only love the name but I love the smashing; seriously for some reason I love to ‘muddle’ stuff for cocktails. The aroma is intoxicating!
It definitely was meant to be! What a fun flavorful drink, and it really sounds refreshing in the heat of Summer:-) Hugs, Terra
Refreshing it is. So funny how cocktails I just love in the summer would seem too frilly in the winter; it’s a time for fruits and fizzes if you ask me!
I know what I am asking my in house mixologist to make for me tonight :)) And I am hoping my share of lemoncello is still safe :))
Did he do it? Tomorrow…thought not Friday (duh) I’m posting a watermelon mojito…get yourself some watermelon girl…this ones good!
You are so gifted, wow, those drinks look and sound wonderful. Very very nice!!
Aww…what a sweet compliment. I have the easy part…I just have to construct what someone else did…and then doggone I have to drink it. 🙂
This looks almost too pretty to drink but still in all, I don’t think I’d have any problem downing a few!
I have to really remind myself with some of these cocktails…don’t forget there really is booze in there Barbara…they are so easy to drink! Loved this one; very fruitalicious and not too sweet.
Oh, I love this cocktail! St-Germain with champagne is my favorite summer cocktail…actually anything with St-Germain. I can’t wait to try this one (and I’ll be sure the recipe doesn’t get filed away…I’ve done that too many times). Beautiful photos!
Isn’t St Germain wonderful; it’s a relatively new find and quickly became a favorite of mine too.
Cheers! This totally reminds me of my favorite Blueberry Martini from Maine.
Now of course I want to make a blueberry martini, you know that right? Cheers to you too Ken!
This would be a drink I would very much enjoy. I don’t know why but I love drinks I have to muddle. I always want to be the one making the mojitos.
You made me chuckle…me too! Maybe it’s that aroma that wafts from the mixture before pouring in anything else? This is really perfect for summer; I can see substituting other berries for the blue ones too!