Blackberry Sage Summer Cooler (Print Version)

A vibrant blackberry and sage drink with zesty lemon and crushed ice, ideal for a refreshing summer cooler.

# Components:

→ Fruit & Herbs

01 - 1 cup fresh blackberries
02 - 4 fresh sage leaves, plus extra for garnish
03 - 1/2 lemon, juiced

→ Sweetener

04 - 1 to 2 tablespoons honey or agave syrup, to taste

→ Liquids

05 - 1 cup sparkling water or club soda

→ Ice

06 - 2 cups crushed ice

# Directions:

01 - In a cocktail shaker or sturdy glass, muddle the blackberries and sage leaves together until the berries are well crushed and the sage is fragrant.
02 - Add the lemon juice and honey or agave syrup. Stir or shake until the sweetener is fully dissolved.
03 - Fill two glasses with crushed ice.
04 - Strain the blackberry-sage mixture evenly over the ice in each glass, pressing to extract as much juice as possible.
05 - Top each glass with sparkling water and stir gently to combine.
06 - Garnish with extra sage leaves and a few whole blackberries. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes fancy and effortless at the same time, the kind of drink that makes you feel like you've got your life together.
  • Fresh blackberries and sage create a sophisticated flavor that's nothing like store-bought sodas or basic fruit drinks.
  • Takes exactly ten minutes and requires no special equipment beyond what's already in your kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip the straining step—fine mesh catches the tiny blackberry seeds and herb bits, giving you that clean, polished drink texture instead of grit.
  • Muddle gently to moderately; if you crush too aggressively, you'll break open the seeds and turn the drink bitter, but not enough pressure and the flavors stay locked inside the berries.
03 -
  • If your blackberries aren't very flavorful or you want a more intense drink, use closer to three-quarters cup honey instead, but remember to add it gradually and taste.
  • Freeze some whole blackberries in ice cubes ahead of time and use those instead of regular ice—they look stunning and flavor the drink as they melt without diluting it the way plain ice does.
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