Blueberry Cocktail with Bourbon and Blueberry Jam

Blueberry cocktails and porch sipping are a match made in heaven. A splash of bourbon and a stir of blueberry jam makes this jam cocktail simple yet complex. This is the perfect spring to summer cocktail; light and refreshing. 

“Blueberries and bourbon are an invitation to pull up a chair and ponder the beauty of summer.”  Charlie Pinson, Friends Drift Inn

Blueberry Bourbon Cocktail Recipe At-A-Glance

Prep Time 5 minutes – Mix Time 5 minutes Total Time 10 minutes

Ingredients   Kentucky Bourbon – Sour Mix – Friends Drift Inn Blueberry Cardamom Jam – Ice – Fresh Blueberries and/or Lemon for garnish

Equipment   Cocktail Shaker with Strainer – Bar Spoon 

Yield 1 mixed drink – rocks cocktail glass

Blueberry Bourbon Cocktail

Blueberry cocktails and summer go together like Jack and Diane.  When the blueberries start to bloom, we know the worst of winter is behind us. 

That calls for celebration! 

Blueberries produce from May to August. There is lots of time to enjoy fresh blueberries as a cocktail garnish!

But even down in the fall, we enjoy a jam cocktail now and then!

The Art of Porch Sipping

A little nip, a little sip.

The clink of ice cubes against a cold sweaty glass. 

The gentle squeak of a rocking chair where momma sits, and the subtle breeze coming from the porch swing swaying as Charlie tells tall tales.   That is summer in the South.

Out in the yard, the kids are chasing lightening bugs.  The dog is searching for a croaky old frog. 

And you and me?  We are sipping a blueberry bourbon cocktail and remembering our salad days.  Sometimes it is the simple things that bring the most joy.

Have You Ever Tried a Blueberry Jam Bourbon Cocktail?

Making my first jam cocktail, I was a little skeptical. But a well-known bartender encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone.

Do you ever need an extra push? 

When you think about it, blueberry jam is basically a concentrated simple syrup – so it does make sense. 

I have been stirring jams into tea for years; why I never thought about cocktails is beyond me. 

This recipe is visually stunning.  But you are going to be wowed by the flavors!  This summer cocktail is so unique.

 You can be comfortable serving this mixed drink at a white-linen dinner party.  But jam cocktails will be a hit with the flip-flop crowd too!

Blueberry Cardamom Jam – Bourbon Cocktail Ingredient

Friends Drift Inn Blueberry Cardamom Jam gives this bourbon cocktail a subtle fruity flavor and a beautiful color.  The spice of cardamom cools the flavors.  It is light and mysterious.

We are proud our jam features fruit first; you really taste the jam. To preserve the true taste of blueberries, we do not use food coloring or preservatives. We use only pure cane sugar, no high fructose corn syrup. We hope you approve!

What is Cardamom?

Cardamom is a spice grown in the Near East, India and surrounds. You have probably experienced cardamom in chai tea, baked goods, and desserts. 

Cardamom smells like spring. It makes this blueberry cocktail whisper memories of summer walks by the creek. It conjures a peaceful cooling sensation. Perfect for hot summer nights!

Blueberries have a unique flavor – sweet with a thick body.  Cardamom lightens the flavor; adding a breath of fresh air and a clean floral note.

I love the moment we add the cardamom to our blueberry jam.  There is a cool down vibe that comes with it, fresh and clean.  It is not minty, but somehow mint comes to mind.  

A Spirited Blueberry Jam Cocktail with Bourbon

You should visit Kentucky. Check out our Bourbon Trail.

Tour our distilleries and learn their stories. Ponder what bourbon profiles appeals to your palate.

All bourbon is not created equally.

When it comes to bourbon, this Kentucky girl has her favorites.  There are nuances in the mash bill and aging processes that make each brand unique.

With blueberries I prefer a bourbon that is light on the oak.  My go to bourbon has notes of citrus and vanilla, but it is not overly sweet. 

Award-winning spirits writer, Kara Newman shares a guide to bourbon flavor profiles   “What Does Your Bourbon Actually Taste Like?” on the liquor dot com site. 

In a nutshell she breaks it down into:

1. Grain Forward Bourbons
2. Nutmeg Forward Bourbons
3. Caramel Forward Bourbons
4. Cinnamon Forward Bourbons

For blueberry bourbon cocktails, you should try milder bourbons. Look for a flavor profiles with a soft roundness, vanilla notes, a smooth finish and a low ratio of rye.

That is how we choose the bourbon to pair with our Blueberry Cardamom Jam.

Blueberries as a Cocktail Garnish

For a summer cocktail garnish, you need ultra-fresh blueberries.  The garnish sets the stage for good things to come. 

If you want a true blueberry “experience” find a you-pick farm and harvest blueberries by hand.   Can’t get much fresher than that! 

Of course, there is always the farmers market, too. 

Fresh blueberries have a frosted, silvery look about them.  They should be plump, not shriveled.  

Look for blueberries with good color.  Avoid pinky-red ones, they are not ripe.  Instead look for deep blue and purple berries. 

According the National Highbush Blueberry Council “Tips to Buying Blueberries” 

there are right and wrong ways to store your blueberries.  Their recommendation is:

Refrigerate fresh blueberries when you get them home, either in their original plastic pack or in a covered bowl or container. Be sure to wash your blueberries just before you start snacking and eat them within 10 days of purchase (that’s the easy part!).

We like floating blueberries in this concoction.  But you could use some sort of spear.

  For visual appeal, choose blueberries that are close to the same size. 

Serving Ideas for Blueberry Bourbon Cocktail

Watermelons make a great pairing with blueberry bourbon cocktails. Slice watermelon open, hit it with salt, share slices with friends. 

Oh yeah! Mix another round of blueberry cocktails. 

Go slow and savor the moment.

Blueberry cocktails on a summer evening served with a peach cobbler jam bar  and a dip of cold vanilla ice cream is one of those little pleasures that makes life better. 

Blueberry, peaches and bourbon are a tasty trinity. 

Oddly enough, blueberries pair well with corn bread. Try a honey cake fried corn cake or a crusty square of cornbread soaked in milk with a little blueberry cardamom jam stirred in.   

Now fancy pants folks might suggest a “custard paired” with a blueberry bourbon cocktail, but every Southern girl knows custard is academic speak for pudding.

 Cool creamy banana pudding and a blueberry cocktail is how I roll.  Just saying.

What Goes with Blueberry Jam Cocktails?

Blueberry bourbon cocktails are not a drink for steak and taters! This is a salad, fruit, cheese plate, or simple dessert accompaniment.  

I love this jam cocktail with a big hunk of ice-cold watermelon.  And yes, I will spit the seeds in the yard if I am of that notion!  Giggles

This bourbon cocktail is not light like a wine spritzer, no not hardly.  There is a mellow and robust tummy warming satisfaction that tells your brain to relax and smile. 

Some days you just must let things go.

 Bad hair days, sweaty making jam days, and long hot days on the farm – these are the days that call for a light summer cocktail with a little oomph.

  Pull up a chair.  I will make you one.  You are 21, right?  Giggles

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