Blackberry Julep

About the Blackberry Julep

A fruity, herbaceous take on the classic mint julep, the Blackberry Julep muddles fresh blackberries and mint with Timber Creek’s Southern Reserve Florida Whiskey and simple syrup, then strains the mixture over crushed ice. The blackberries bring deep, slightly tart fruit flavor and a rich purple color, while the mint adds the same cooling, aromatic lift that defines a traditional julep, giving the finished drink a balance between sweet, tart, and herbal. Southern Reserve Florida Whiskey holds its own against muddled fruit and fresh herbs because of the body Timber Creek builds into it before blending.

Each grain component is distilled and aged in its own barrel, then combined under the distillery’s PureBlend process, which gives the whiskey enough caramel and oak depth to stay present even once it’s shaken with blackberries and mint. To build the drink, muddle fresh blackberries with mint leaves in a shaker, add the whiskey and simple syrup, shake with ice until well chilled, and strain over crushed ice in a julep cup or rocks glass, garnishing with an extra mint sprig. This julep is well suited to a warm-weather gathering, a Kentucky Derby watch party, or any occasion where a classic drink with a fruity twist fits the mood.

Grilled lamb pairs particularly well here, since the blackberry’s tartness cuts through the richness of the meat, and a goat cheese salad works nicely too, letting the drink’s herbal mint note complement the tang of the cheese. Packing the crushed ice tightly into the glass, rather than leaving air pockets, helps the julep stay colder for longer as you sip. Crushed ice keeps a julep cold and diluted quickly, which can make it easy to drink faster than you intend, so slow down, sip rather than gulp, and as always, drink responsibly and plan your transportation before the party gets going.

A fruity, herbaceous take on the classic mint julep, the Blackberry Julep muddles fresh blackberries and mint with Timber Creek’s Southern Reserve Florida Whiskey and simple syrup, then strains the mixture over crushed ice. The blackberries bring deep, slightly tart fruit flavor and a rich purple color, while the mint adds the same cooling, aromatic lift that defines a traditional julep, giving the finished drink a balance between sweet, tart, and herbal. Southern Reserve Florida Whiskey holds its own against muddled fruit and fresh herbs because of the body Timber Creek builds into it before blending.

Each grain component is distilled and aged in its own barrel, then combined under the distillery’s PureBlend process, which gives the whiskey enough caramel and oak depth to stay present even once it’s shaken with blackberries and mint. To build the drink, muddle fresh blackberries with mint leaves in a shaker, add the whiskey and simple syrup, shake with ice until well chilled, and strain over crushed ice in a julep cup or rocks glass, garnishing with an extra mint sprig. This julep is well suited to a warm-weather gathering, a Kentucky Derby watch party, or any occasion where a classic drink with a fruity twist fits the mood.

Grilled lamb pairs particularly well here, since the blackberry’s tartness cuts through the richness of the meat, and a goat cheese salad works nicely too, letting the drink’s herbal mint note complement the tang of the cheese. Packing the crushed ice tightly into the glass, rather than leaving air pockets, helps the julep stay colder for longer as you sip. Crushed ice keeps a julep cold and diluted quickly, which can make it easy to drink faster than you intend, so slow down, sip rather than gulp, and as always, drink responsibly and plan your transportation before the party gets going.