While Blueberry Hill is a classic 1950s rock-n-roll song about lost love made popular by Fats Domino, Blueberry Thrill is a great cocktail for the 4th of July & Summer. But I can’t help singing the song every time I make this drink!

The cocktail starts with an infusion. Mashed blueberries are steeped in gin, adding their wonderful essence and flavor to the gin. A touch of lemon juice brightens and cardamom simple syrup sweetens the infusion, making for a refreshing cocktail. While the drink appears more purplish than the blue or red color associated with this holiday, having blue in the name deems it appropriate. While July 4th, 2020 will be devoid of many of the parades, gatherings, and fireworks displays that typically mark Independence Day, it will also be remembered for the awesome food and drink we will be having!

Blueberry Thrill Cocktail

Blueberry Thrill Cocktail (adapted from cookinglight.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour + 11 minutes, Hands-on Time: 11 minutes, Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups (7 ounces) blueberries
• 1 1/2 cups dry gin
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 cardamom pods, crushed
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• additional blueberries & mint leaves for garnish
• club soda, if desired

Preparation:

Make the Blueberry Gin: Place the blueberries in a large, heavy stainless-steel saucepan and mash them with a potato masher or a fork.

Mash the blueberries.

Over medium-high heat, cook the blueberries for 3 minutes or until they begin to release their juice. Remove the pan from the heat and add the gin. Cover the pan and let it stand for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Add the gin to the blueberries.

Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing the berries with the back of a spoon to remove as much juice as possible. Discard the solids.

Strain the blueberry gin.

Make the Cardamom Simple Syrup: Combine the water, sugar, and cardamom pods in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Cool completely and strain the syrup to remove the cardamom pods.

Make the Cardamom Simple Syrup.

To Make One Cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add 1/2 cup blueberry-gin, 3 tablespoons of cardamom syrup, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the shaker. Shake until chilled. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass.

Combine the ingredients in a cocktail shaker, strain into a glass and garnish.

Top off the drink with some club soda, if desired. Garnish with additional blueberries and a mint leaf, if desired. Serve immediately. Repeat the cocktail procedure for additional drinks.

Our 4th of July cocktail!

Cheers on this 4th of July holiday weekend!  ~Linda

Blueberry Thrill Cocktail (adapted from cookinglight.com) Total Time Required: 1 hour + 11 minutes, Hands-on Time: 11 minutes, Yield: 5 servings

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups (7 ounces) blueberries
• 1 1/2 cups dry gin
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 cardamom pods, crushed
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• additional blueberries & mint leaves for garnish
• club soda, if desired

Preparation:

Make the Blueberry Gin: Place the blueberries in a large, heavy stainless-steel saucepan and mash them with a potato masher or a fork.

Over medium-high heat, cook the blueberries for 3 minutes or until they begin to release their juice. Remove the pan from the heat and add the gin. Cover the pan and let it stand for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Strain the mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing the berries with the back of a spoon to remove as much juice as possible. Discard the solids.

Make the Cardamom Simple Syrup: Combine the water, sugar, and cardamom pods in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. Cool completely and strain the syrup to remove the cardamom pods.

To Make One Cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add 1/2 cup blueberry-gin, 3 tablespoons of cardamom syrup, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the shaker. Shake until chilled. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass. Top off the drink with some club soda, if desired. Garnish with additional blueberries and a mint leaf, if desired. Serve immediately. Repeat the cocktail procedure for additional drinks.