I stumbled upon this lip-smackin good recipe while researching blackcurrants yesturday and bookmarked it for future use. Ironically, my mom brought over a pint of fresh blackberries, or brambles as she calls them, that she had picked earlier that day. Yes, BLOG LOVE query solved!!! We yankees refer to them as blackberries, but they’re the same oversized, tart fruit that the Brits call bramble. Totally delic in an apple and bramble pie, I might add too. And as with the blackcurrant, it must be said that Culpeper lists this fruit under Venus. But I am giving it dominion under Saturn, due again to it’s grimacing flavour and darker-than-a-moonless-night color. So forward march up Capricorn’s steep, dark and barren hill. Onto the BLOG LOVE cocktail at hand, the Blackberry Noir. Thanks much, WORLD ON A PLATE, for bringing us a lil’ piece o’ blackberry bliss.

BLACKBERRY NOIR

Yield: 2 + martinis.

*1 tsp simple sugar
*1/2 cup blackberries
*2 lemon wedges
*1/2 cup vodka (or gin) (adjust to your liking!)
*1 tablespoon Cointreau (or o.j.)
*1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice.

In a small food processor, puree the berries and lemon juice.

Prepare two martini glasses: rub the rims with lemons, then pour a layer of superfine sugar on a plate and twirl the glasses in it. Place them in the freezer.

Fill a martini shaker with ice, then add the vodka (or gin), Cointreau. Add 1 tablespoons of the culled simple syrup and a bit of the berry puree–a little goes a long way. There will be more for later. Shake well for about 10 seconds and strain into the glasses. Serve.

NOTE:
Turns out, I’m a cocktal wuss. Who knew?! And… I replaced (and increased) the simple syrup with maple syrup. Also, changed the garnish. Find my twist on the Blackberry Noir below:

GWEN’S BLACKBERRY NOIR :

* 1/2 c gin
* 6 tbs blackberry puree
* 4 tbs maple syrup
* 1 tbs Cointreau
* garnish with repurposed plastic cocktail sword loaded with berries.

*** Shake it baby, for like a minute. That was a mad strong drink that needed calming down. Shake it for a minute and let it sit for a minute.

THANKS TO THE COCKTAIL CHRONICLES FOR HOSTING THIS MONTH’S MIXOLOGY MONDAY!