Plump, juicy blackberries are muddled with fragrant fresh mint to form the base of this irresistibly beautiful and refreshing Blackberry Bourbon Smash. This is a cocktail so gorgeous it’s hard to believe it’s so easy to make!

Blackberry Bourbon Smash

This has been my cocktail of choice this summer for a whole host of great reasons. Gigantic blackberries have been available at bargain prices in my grocery stores, so it’s hard to resist stocking up and I’ve been stuffing blackberries into just about every dish I can.

This particular cocktail, though, is a riff on the classic whiskey smash; a citrus forward drink that tastes like a boozy lemonade. Our blackberry bourbon smash recipe adds a heaping helping of muddled blackberries for both flavor and aesthetics.

The end result is a seriously sippable, perfectly balanced, delightfully refreshing cocktail that is easy on the eyes, too. It’s a winner of a drink!

Bourbon Smash

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:

• fresh blackberries
• mint leaves
• fresh lime juice
• ice cubes

There aren’t many things that top a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, but this strawberry lemonade is one of them. And if you’re like me and prefer your drinks a bit less sweet, homemade is the way to go.

You can control the sweetness, and if it’s a lazy summer night, no one is going to judge you for adding a splash of vodka to your glass. Spiked strawberry lemonade? That’s a happy recipe for porch-sitting with friends and family on a Friday night.

I love mixing drinks, both with and without alcohol, in the summertime. There’s something extra refreshing about holding a homemade soda, iced coffee, or a frozen chocolate milk.

Pineapple, mint, and lime combine deliciously to make these irresistible Pineapple Mojitos. These are the cocktails I have made the most frequently for several years now. While I will forever love Classic Mojitos, Blueberry Mojitos, and Basil Mojitos too, the pineapple version is a guaranteed crowd favorite.

Have you heard of a Dirty Banana? I hadn’t until I sailed with Princess Cruises and I have to admit that the name alone made me laugh. Hard. However, the milkshake-like cocktail proved irresistible.

Want something a little unexpected? Sandia en Fuego (a.k.a. the best Watermelon Margaritas of your life!) are a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. Watermelon meets serrano peppers along with a splash of tequila to make this unforgettable drink. Spicy heat with sweet watermelon? Yes, PLEASE!

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Get ready for a tasty combination of fresh fruit and cool mint in this Blueberry Mojito recipe. You’ll find yourself hooked from the first sip!

Blueberry Mojito

These cocktails are perfect for sipping at a party or for relaxing on the porch with friends on a warm summer evening. A blueberry mojito is just summer in a glass, for me.

Having lived in one of the hottest cities in the US for a very long time, mojitos became a favorite pretty much year-round. But, the blueberry mojito adds a twist on the classic beverage.

Blueberries have a distinct flavor that starts off sweet but leaves a tanginess that lingers. The taste will vary depending on the ripeness of the berries, with riper blueberries tending to be sweeter.

But, I adore the way that the sweetness of the muddled blueberries in this drink balances the zesty citrus of the lime juice. This recipe is so good, it makes it harder to appreciate the drinks that are made outside your kitchen.

Blueberry Mojito Recipe

• fresh mint leaves
• fresh or frozen blueberries
• lime juice
• simple syrup
• white or light rum
• ice and club soda

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Crisp, tart, slightly sweet, and always fragrant, the classic mojito is a classic cocktail that I never get tired of sipping.

I’ve been a fan of mojitos for a while now. I tried my first mojito about 15 years ago, while on a camping trip with several families. Our friend Tony made the mojitos and I was hooked.

(Yes, that would be Tony, the same person who introduced us to the crazy delicious Slow Cooker Baked Beans recipe and Italian Cream Liqueur.)

We’ve tried quite a few mojito recipes over the years. I enjoy the Pineapple Mojitos and Basil Mojitos as well, but I always circle back to the classic cocktail made with plenty of fresh mint, lime, and rum.

Classic Mojito

Add in a refreshing splash of club soda and you have summer in a glass. This cocktail recipe is ideal for sipping at a garden party or for relaxing on the porch with friends on a warm summer evening.

And since I lived in one of the hottest cities in the US for a very long time, this drink became a favorite pretty much year-round.

I’ll warn you now that once you start making your own mojitos at home, you won’t be nearly as happy with anyone else’s. The exception to that is my friend Holly. She makes an absolutely fabulous mojito and I never turn one of hers down.

You can check out Holly’s recipe here,  if you want to give her version a try. You might notice our recipes are close to identical. (That just might be the reason I love hers too!) Great mojito-loving minds obviously think alike.

Mojito Ingredients

A classic mojito is simultaneously elegant yet simple. It brings to

Have you heard of Milk Punch? This old-school cocktail is made with bourbon, whisky, or brandy. It is a very lightly sweetened drink that starts with milk and half-and-half, it’s flavored with hints of vanilla and nutmeg.

What is Milk Punch?

Milk Punch is about as old-fashioned as a cocktail can get. This creamy, dairy-based cocktail actually dates back to Scotland in the 1600’s. And as far as I can tell, there isn’t just one way or accepted recipe for the drink either.

This drink was originally made and served warm, as refrigeration wasn’t a thing when Benjamin Franklin was sipping his own milk punch. Lucky for us, the cocktail is now more commonly served cold.

This particular recipe creates a slushy-like drink that is irresistible both in the winter months and in the midst of a hot summer. Imagine a boozy milkshake that’s not overly sweet, and still refreshing. Yes, it’s possible and yes, it’s good.

Milk Punch Recipe

This recipe is one that I found in my Canal House Cooks Everyday cookbook and as soon as I saw it, I had to try it. I’d never even heard of Milk Punch prior to that day.

I absolutely love finding fun new recipes to share with you and like the Italian Cream Liqueur that our friend Tony introduced us to a few years ago, this Milk Punch begged to be shared from the very first sip.

It was a real hardship, but I went ahead and made another batch to photograph and share with you this year for the holidays.

In case my sarcasm wasn’t clear enough, it’s no hardship to mix this recipe together. Pour everything into a jar and pop it in the freezer. Shake a few times as it chills. That’s it. You’ll be sipping an old-fashioned, new-to-you drink in no time!

Milk Punch Ingredients

• whole milk
• half-and-half
• powdered sugar
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