This fresh blueberry bourbon smash is the perfect adult drink for any occasion. Made with a simple blueberry syrup and mixed with lemon and mint, the deep purple hue and fresh sprig of mint for garnish is the perfect pairing for a refreshing and relaxing drink you and your friends will love.

Blueberries make the perfect festive drink!

Here at The Produce Moms, we love using berries to make something refreshing to drink during the holiday season and beyond. This berry-themed blueberry bourbon smash is a beautiful and refreshing adult beverage that we enjoy, year after year.  

We’re so excited to share this new recipe that will have you wowing your Christmas party guests for years to come. 

Blueberry bourbon smash is sponsored by North Bay Produce.

You’ll make your own homemade blueberry simple syrup on the stove that’s filled with sweet, floral blueberry flavor. Don’t worry,  we promise it’s super easy! Mix your simple syrup with the bourbon, tonic, lemon, and herbs and you’re all set. 

The beautiful deep blueberry purple garnished with a fresh green sprig of mint is as stunning as it is tasty. 

Let’s get started!

Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to make blueberry bourbon smash in under 20 minutes. Half of the ingredients are fresh, giving you a balance of sweet, acidic, and earthy that holds up well against the bourbon. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

Blueberries

We used North Bay Produce blueberries because they’re always fresh and bursting with sweet flavor. For the best infusion of flavor, as your simple syrup simmers on the stove, we highly recommend fresh blueberries from the produce aisle at your local grocery store. Frozen blueberries tend to lose their juiciness so opt for fresh blueberries instead of frozen.

Bourbon

Use any kind of bourbon you like! Top-shelf bourbon isn’t necessary for this recipe because it gets mixed with other ingredients. The quality isn’t as noticeable once all the flavors are mixed together. We used a medium-quality bourbon for a nice in-between on flavor and price, but go ahead and use your favorite brand. After all, this blueberry bourbon smash is your treat to yourself. 

Tonic 

Carbonated tonic has quinine to give it a slightly bitter taste. On the other hand, it’s also made with a sweetener. So it adds depth of flavor to many mixed drinks, including this blueberry bourbon cocktail. With an almost citrusy essence, it’s the perfect complement to the lime, blueberries, and herbs. You can find tonic in plastic bottles or cans in the soda aisle or the mixers section. 

Mint

Fresh herbs with juicy blueberries are one of our favorite flavor combinations. We love the cooling taste of mint leaves any time of the year. The mint leaves are muddled with the lemon for a minty, lemony base that adds even more freshness to your blueberry bourbon cocktail. And remember to save some mint for garnish — it’s the bow on top!  

How to Make a Blueberry Bourbon Smash Cocktail

Once you make your blueberry simple syrup, it’s a simple mix of a few ingredients and then you can enjoy it.

Step 1: Make the blueberry simple syrup. 

Add the sugar and water to a saucepan and bring it to a simmer. When the sugar has dissolved and the water looks clear again, add the blueberries and continue to simmer for fifteen minutes until the blueberries burst.

Remove the blueberries from the heat and pour the simple syrup through a mesh strainer to get rid of the blueberry pieces. Your syrup should be smooth and thin with a dark purple-blueberry color.

Step 2: Muddle the lemon and mint. 

Peel the mint leaves off the sprigs and add them to a mixer, along with the lemon wedge. Use a metal or wooden cocktail muddler to break up the lemon and the mint leaves. This releases the flavor and infuses it into your blueberry bourbon smash.  

Step 3: Mix your blueberry bourbon cocktail.

Add the blueberry simple syrup, bourbon, and tonic water to your mixer and top with cubed ice. Stir with a cocktail stirrer for 20-30 seconds to gently mix the cocktail ingredients together. If you don’t have a stirrer, a metal straw or a spoon will do the trick. 

Step 4: Garnish and serve.

Fill a cocktail glass with crushed ice. Use the strainer on your mixer to transfer the blueberry bourbon smash to the glass for a light, smooth, refreshing drink. Garnish it with fresh mint and whole blueberries and enjoy!

Why We Love North Bay Produce

Did you know North Bay Produces works with growers to bring you and your family blueberries bursting with sweet juicy flavor all year long? They carefully follow strict safety regulations so that your blueberries always show up at your local grocery store with the highest quality and flavor. You can taste the care they put into growing your blueberries when they burst and pop with flavor in your mouth. 

Look for fresh blueberries with the green and red North Bay Produce label in the produce aisle when you make your blueberry bourbon smash cocktail.

We got so excited talking about berry drinks that we wanted to round up some of our favorite fruity cocktails! 

More Fruity Drinks (Only for Mom) 

• Red, White, and Blueberry Mojito — perfect for the 4th of July (with a virgin option too)
• Pink Lady Mimosas — bubbly and sweet with a refined pink color
• Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade — enjoy it on the porch or by the pool
• Watermelon Basil Margarita — the perfect balance of sweet and savory