Vodka Sour with Blackberry Simple Syrup
Using blackberry simple syrup in a classic vodka sour creates a well-balanced cocktail with bright flavors of lemon and blackberry. But why stop there? Add an egg white, and you’ve got smooth mouthfeel that makes sipping this blackberry sour even easier.
This vodka sour recipe using blackberry simple syrup was created for my 52 weeks of cocktails challenge (week 22: simple syrups). Simple syrups are easy to make and can be used to create infinite variations in vodka cocktails. And that stunningly vibrant color is such a delight.
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The vodka sour
After the dry martini, the sour family of cocktails is one of the first sets of classic cocktails that a home bartender should master. They are easy recipes for great cocktails with a perfect balance between sweet and tart.
You can take the sour formula and change it up by using a different base liquor. Make your sour with rum and lime juice, and you have a daiquiri. Change it to tequila and Cointreau, and that’s a margarita. Make it with gin and lime juice, and it’s a gimlet.
You can turn a vodka sour base into a highball cocktail with some bubbly water. Add soda water and you’ve got a Vodka Collins. Add tonic water and it’s a Vodka Tonic.
Ingredients
The basic formula for the vodka sour is two ounces of vodka, three quarters of an ounce of fresh lemon juice or lime juice, and three quarters of an ounce of simple syrup. You can, of course, make it sweeter or more sour depending on your preference.
The egg white was not included in the original sour cocktails, which date back to the 1800s. Leave it out if you’re concerned about foodborne illness. Or keep it in if you want that frothy topping no matter what.
Variations and substitutions
- Skip the egg white and add soda or tonic water for a blackberry vodka soda or blackberry vodka tonic.
- Change up the flavor in this classic cocktail with any other homemade simple syrup.
- Garnish with a lemon slice, lemon twist, or maraschino cherry.
Recipe tips and tricks
How to make a vodka sour
Tips from the wise quacker: the vodka sour is a shaken cocktail. If you want to include the optional egg white in your blackberry vodka sour, the key to getting the layer of foam is the dry shake method. Doing a dry shake allows you to create a foamy top without diluting your cocktail.
First, add the cocktail ingredients to your cocktail shaker without any ice and shake. Hold it tight, because the pressure is going to build up in your shaker! After about 10 to 20 seconds or so, add a half cup of ice cubes to the shaker, shake, and strain.
You can serve this up in a chilled coupe or other cocktail glass. Or serve it in a rocks glass with a large ice cube.
What to serve with a blackberry vodka sour
The sweet and tangy flavors of the blackberry vodka sour would pair well with dishes that are slightly tart or those that feature berries or citrus. How about:
- Crostini topped with goat cheese and jam
- Cast iron chicken breasts with a blackberry sauce.
- A green salad or rainbow salad using fresh blackberries.
- A simple lemon and blackberry loaf cake.
Cocktail FAQs
You can use any type of vodka for a vodka sour, but it’s best to choose a vodka that is smooth and clean-tasting. I make our vodka cocktails with Ketel One, but there are lots of great options.
I always recommend fresh lemon juice when making cocktails, but you can use bottled lemon juice in a pinch. Be sure to check if your bottled lemon juice is concentrated, and keep in mind that bottled lemon juice may have a slightly different taste than fresh.
I cannot give you a probability. Please use your personal judgement, because consumption of raw eggs may result in foodborne illness.The original sour recipe had no egg white, so you can omit it if you are concerned about raw egg whites. If you can find them, you could use pasteurized egg whites or a tablespoon of aquafaba.
Related cocktail recipes
Love sours? Browse the Ugly Duckling Bakery beverage archives for other delicious sour cocktail recipes such as:
Or, if you love blackberries, check out this blackberry lemon loaf cake, blackberry curd tart, or blackberry apple pie.
Love cocktails and want to explore more? Read all about classic cocktails and bartender basics or join this year’s 52 weeks of cocktails challenge!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.
Vodka Sour with Blackberry Simple Syrup
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
Blackberry vodka sour
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ¾ ounce blackberry simple syrup
- 1 egg white pasteurized or see note
- 2 blackberries for garnish
Instructions
Blackberry vodka sour
- Combine the vodka, lemon juice, ¾ ounce of blackberry simple syrup from above, and the egg white in a cocktail shaker without ice, and shake for 10 to 20 seconds. Hold your shaker tight, because it will try to pop open.2 ounces vodka, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ¾ ounce blackberry simple syrup, 1 egg white
- Add a handful of ice to the shaker and shake again for 5 to 10 seconds to chill.
- Strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with blackberries.2 blackberries
Notes
Nutrition
This blackberry vodka sour recipe was first posted on June 5, 2022. It was last updated on April 25, 2023.
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