Easy Blackberry Vodka Recipe

I love to make my own flavored vodka, partly because I like the flavor of the homemade more, but mostly because I save a fortune by making it myself. This recipe will make you about 1 liter of homemade blackberry vodka and cost you less than $20.

Why you'll love this berry vodka recipe!

If you love recipes like my summery basil vodka or tasty thyme-infused honey, I love finding ways to preserve seasonal flavors so we can enjoy them long after their peak time has passed. This recipe is no exception!

Whether you are sourcing blackberries from the market or a local farm stand, infusing berries in vodka is a great way to customize your bar cart with some of your favorite flavors, which will help make cocktails at home a breeze. This recipe comes together with just a few ingredients.

ingredients

This blackberry vodka recipe is easy to make and adds a delicious flavor to any vodka cocktail.

Homemade fruit vodka is the best way to capture the essence of fresh berries. This blackberry-infused vodka is so good – it's made with real berries, without any added sugars or artificial flavors. The result is a clean, fruity spirit that tastes just like summer.

To make this blackberry vodka, you will need:

• Fresh or Frozen Blackberries: You can use any kind of berries here, but I like how the dark color of blackberries looks in this recipe.
• vodka
• a large mason jar or another sealable container
• simple syrup

Optional ingredients:

• lemon juice
• Vanilla Bean: Vanilla beans add a deep floral sweetness to the vodka. They're easy to use and elevate the flavor of this infusion. Tiny vanilla bean specks also look beautiful in this blackberry-infused vodka!

step by step instructions

This berry vodka comes together in just a few minutes and results in a delicious infusion that will be great in drinks or easy to sip on its own.

Step 1: Pick blackberries

The first thing you'll need to do is pick enough blackberries for your vodka infusion. You can use store-bought or select them from the wild; it's up to you. If you are picking them yourself, be sure they are ripe and ready to eat!

Step 2: Wash blackberries

Wash the blackberries and discard bruised or rotten berries. Blackberry leaves are bitter, so you can pitch those too, but don't toss the stems until you've inspected them. They may have tiny blackberries on them!

Step 3: Put berries in a jar

Add all of your picked or washed berries into your glass jar and add just enough vodka to cover the berries thoroughly.

Step 4: Time for infusion

Keep in a cool, dark place for three days. Then, remove and taste the vodka every day to see if it has reached your desired sweetness level; this may take anywhere from 3-7 days, depending on the type of vodka used and your desired strength and sweetness.

Step 5: Strain the berries

When you are happy with the blackberry flavor, strain the berries using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth (you can do this step over a large bowl to catch any drips). If you're using a cheesecloth, twist it around the berries to extract as much liquid as possible (the berries will be very juicy).

Pour blackberry-infused vodka into a clean glass bottle or jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Expert Tips

You can discard the berries after starting or save them for another use (they're great in oatmeal or on top of ice cream).

You can use a cocktail shaker to strain out the berries if you don't have a strainer or cheesecloth (just strain your vodka through its built-in sieve before pouring it into glasses).

It's fun to watch the color change as the alcohol extracts the pigments from the berries. This effect is especially dramatic when using black raspberries or blackberries.

The mixture starts a deep purple color that lightens as the alcohol draws out more of the pigments. It's similar to osmosis you might have learned about in science class — in this case, alcohol acts as a solvent or carrier that helps dissolve molecules to move from the berries into the vodka.

Three quick blackberry vodka cocktail recipes

Blackberry vodka can be used in a variety of ways. It can be sipped neat or on the rocks, though most people prefer their vodka to be served chilled. It can also be used in cocktails: mix it with soda water or lemonade for a leisurely drink, or add it to your favorite juice!

Keep your summer parties fully stocked with these three refreshing blackberry cocktails. Here are three easy beverages that come together in just a couple of minutes.

Blackberry Vodka Smash

Pour two parts vodka over ice, and then add 1 part of simple syrup and lemon juice. Garnish with fresh blackberries.

Basil & Blackberry Vodka Lemonade

Add a handful of basil leaves to a glass and muddle them with ice. Then fill the glass with ice cubes. Add equal parts vodka and lemonade and stir. Top it off with fresh basil, blackberries, and lemon slices for garnish.

Summer Blackberry Bramble

Add 1 part vodka to a glass filled halfway with crushed ice. Then pour in ½ part each of lime juice and simple syrup, followed by ¼ part crème de mûre (a blackberry liqueur). Stir the ingredients together, and top it off with muddled blackberries, if you'd like.

FAQ

How to make infused vodkaInfused vodka is a type of flavored vodka that has been infused with an ingredient such as herbs, fruit, or spices. To make it, you will need to add the ingredients and let them steep in alcohol for a few weeks or even months.

📖 Recipe

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