Let’s get out the real truth about brunch, it’s an excuse to have a cocktail before noon. Come on, don’t deny it, you know you look forward to ordering that mimosa or bloody mary because when your alcohol is covered up with tomato or orange juice it’s completely legitimate to have it in the morning.
Here’s the deal though, most of those brunch cocktails aren’t very good. They are either watered down, made with subpar ingredients, sit around for hours or come from a giant mix with a color not really found in nature.
Best way to fix that? Just make a standard cocktail but tone it down a bit with some fruit and herbs.
A local fancy pizza joint by us has a reverse happy hour every day of the week. Since Braden and I are late eaters to begin with, we don’t really mind waiting until 9pm to pop down for some pizza and drinks once a week. I can’t resist imbibing in their bourbon cocktail offerings but I always go back to their bourbon smash. That mix of lemon with the mint and glass of of crush ice makes it go down dangerously quick.
Bourbon being a natural match with a number of fruits meant this needed to be made into a brunch cocktail. Muddled with fresh blueberries and mint turn it into a gorgeous hue and the simple syrup plus lemon juice means it isn’t too strong to have so early in the day.
I already know this is my new cocktail of the summer and I see many variations on the way.
Ingredients
- 9 fresh mint leaves
- 10 fresh blueberries
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 2 ounces bourbon
- crushed ice
Instructions
- In your cocktail shaker muddle the mint leaves, blueberries, simple syrup and lemon juice together.
- Pour in the bourbon and shake.
- Fill a rocks glass to the top with crushed ice and pour over the ice without straining.
- Garnish with a whole mint leaf and blueberries
- Makes 1 cocktail
Notes
To make the simple syrup, simply bring to boil equal amounts of water and sugar.
If you don't have an ice machine at home to make the crushed ice, place some ice cubes in a tea towel and using a meat pounder or hammer crush the ice in the towel.
Brunch Beverages:
- Blueberry Bourbon Smash from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Key Lime Pie Smoothie from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
- Spicy Mocha from Cooking in Stilettos
Brunch Eggs:
- Sausage, Pepper and Caramelized Onion Quiche from Love and Confections
- Mexican Carrot Fritters with Bacon and Eggs from Food Faith Fitness
- Breakfast Casserole Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers from The Spiffy Cookie
Brunch Main Dishes:
- Crab Imperial Peppers from The Vintage Cook
Brunch Sides:
- Roasted Pepper and Ricotta-Stuffed Peppers from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Carrot and Apple Slaw from Real Housemoms
Brunch Breads and Grains:
- Carrot Cake Muffins from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Lemon-Poppyseed Cornbread Mini Muffins from Foxes Love Lemons
- Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Cherry Muffins from Chocolate Moosey
- Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast Roll-Ups from Cupcake & Kale Chips
- Raisin Craisin Cinnamon Rolls from Big Bear’s Wife
- Chipotle Peach Cheese Danish from {I Love} My Disorganized Life
- Spring Vegetable Danish from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
Brunch Desserts:
- Key Lime Cheesecake with a Hazelnut Crust from It’s Yummi
- Sacher Torte from Roxana’s Home Baking
I would take one of these over a bloody mary any day!
Susan, you are speaking my language with this here cocktail. Love me some bourbon! These are gorgeous. Pinned.
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Oh, brunch is nothing BUT an excuse to drink before noon, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Although sometimes…brunch turns into an all day pub crawl. But, that happens to everybody….right?
But seriously, you know I love bourbon smashes. Next time I have fresh mint on hand, I’ll try this. Because I always seem to buy mint, use like 4 leaves of it, and then watch it die in the fridge. Not anymore! Where’s the Bulleit?
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Such an appropriate name because I would definitely get smashed off something as delicious as that.
Oooh, I love the idea of adding blueberries! Both beautiful and delicious!!!
My husband would love this!
Gorgeous cocktail just perfect for spring!
Bourbon but no blueberries… sad. I want to make this!
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I love using mint in cocktails. Yum!