Blackberry Limeade

I always feel like I don’t post enough drink recipes. I do like to make drinks both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. Though I confess I mostly just drink water or tea, so my “concoctions” generally have to be inspired. This recipe is based on a drink I used to love called a “Black Gin Fizz”. It was made from fresh blackberries, Rose’s lime and gin blended together, strained over ice and topped up with carbonated water. I had a bit of a craving for it but mostly just for the taste, not the hangover. So, this version is non-alcoholic. It’s sort of like pink lemonade’s cousin… the crazy one it doesn’t like to talk about.

Ingredients

• 1lb (16 oz) of blackberries, fresh or frozen, thawed
• 5 to 6 cups (40 to 48 fl oz) of filtered water, divided (see notes)
• 1 generous cup of granulated sugar (or more to taste)
• The juice of 8 limes (yields 3/4  to 1 cup)
•  The juice of 1 small lemon (yields a few tablespoons)

Instructions

1. Place the blackberries and 1 cup (8 fl oz) of the water into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Place 1 cup (8 fl oz) of the water into a 32-ounce heatproof measuring jug and whisk in the sugar. Microwave on high until just before the boiling point. Remove from the microwave and whisk to make sure all the sugar is dissolved.
3. Strain the blackberry juice through a fine mesh strainer, into the sugar water, using a rubber spatula to force it through. Then, rinse the strainer well and place it over a serving pitcher.
4. Whisk the blackberry juice with the sugar water and then pour it through the strainer into the pitcher, but do not force it through this time. Discard whatever is left in the strainer.
5. Stir in the remaining 3 or 4 cups of water and chill in the fridge until cold.
6. Serve cold and/or over ice.

Makes Approximately 9 Servings – (8 fl oz each) – See notes below

Notes

• If you add the full 6 cups of water, you’ll get about 9 x 8-ounce servings.
• I like to add just 5 cups of water total, then top up each individual serving with more water, carbonated water, lemon-lime soda or gin.