I know my cocktail experiments have become a bit of a broken blueberry record, but I just love the stuff! I’ve got a whole Tupperware full of this wonderfully rich and sweet syrup and I’m just hell bent on working it into as many drinks as possible. A few days ago I happened upon the “My Fair Lady” cocktail via the One Martini website — apparently, there are a few different fair lady cocktails going around, but this one features:
- 1 heaping tablespoon blueberry syrup
- 1-1/2 ounces gin (I used Barr Hill Gin)
- ⅓ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon absinthe
I didn’t have absinthe but advanced anyway. This was very good and balanced — the blueberry scent was present but didn’t become overly tart. Nothing special, but not a bad drink for sitting outside and reading on a warm day.
Today I went with a bit more powerful spirit – the Picnic Blanket, found on Jezebel’s awesome cocktail website Boozinette. I love the illustrated guides and recipes:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1/2 oz blueberry syrup
- 2 dash orange bitters
- 2 dash Peychaud’s bitters
I didn’t have any Peychaud’s handy when I first came up on this recipe but managed to find some at a local ABC store — good job Virginia. This drink was a little too bourbon-strong especially in the beginning. The recipe brags about burying the bitterness of the berry, but I found that somewhat disappointing. The bourbon also overwhelmed any complexity I was hoping for from the combination of bitters. I’m glad I gave it a whirl but this wasn’t a favorite.
And yes, I know how many B-words I employed in this entry.