Blackberry Peach Old Fashioned Recipe

Chill glass (optional)

If desired, place the old fashioned glass in the freezer for 5–10 minutes or fill briefly with ice water, then discard before building the cocktail.

Muddle blackberry with preserves

Place the fresh blackberry and the 1/2 tablespoon peach preserves into the bottom of a mixing glass or directly in the old fashioned glass. Using a muddler or the back of a bar spoon, gently muddle until the blackberry is broken and the preserves are combined and slightly pulpy. Avoid over-muddling to prevent excessive bitterness from seeds.

Add the bourbon (2 oz) to the mixing glass with the muddled fruit and preserves.

Add 3 dashes of Angostura bitters. If you prefer slightly sweeter balance because the preserves taste tart, add 1/4 tsp simple syrup. Stir gently to combine the ingredients and slightly dissolve the preserves into the spirit (about 15–20 seconds).

Fill the old fashioned glass with a large ice cube (or several large cubes). If you built the drink in a separate mixing glass, strain the mixture over the ice into the chilled glass using a fine strainer or julep strainer to keep most seeds and pulp out; if you built it in the serving glass, simply add the ice on top and give one gentle stir to chill and integrate the drink.

Express the lemon oils over the drink: hold a lemon peel about 3–4 inches above the glass (pith-side down) and give it a firm twist to spray oils onto the surface. Run the peel around the rim if desired.

Drop the twist into the glass and optionally garnish with an extra blackberry on a pick. Give the cocktail one final gentle stir (3–4 turns) to marry flavors, then serve.