“Ma’am Don’t Be Silly”: A Delicious Blackberry Aperol Gin Cocktail
I am legitimately in love with the color of this cocktail. It’s practically glowing!
This gin, blackberry, and Aperol cocktail is a bright, sweet, tart sip that I’m calling “Ma’am, Don’t Be Silly”.
Why am I calling it that?? Well, besides the fact that it’s an awesome name, it’s an homage with a slight twist.
I’d been toying with the idea of a blackberry syrup for a while, both for cocktails and for coffee. And then I was rewatching the Somebody Feed Phil episode in New Orleans, where he visits Turkey & the Wolf. They served a gin, Campari, and blackberry cocktail called “Ma’am, Don’t Be Hysterical” and a lightbulb went off in my head!
I loved the idea of the sweet, earthy blackberry flavor paired with a bitter companion. I don’t tend to have Campari on hand (plus it’s not my favorite), so I subbed the slightly lighter, sweeter Aperol instead. The result is a perfectly balanced sip that screams SPRING!
How to make this easy blackberry syrup
The syrup that really makes-or-breaks this cocktail is so easy to whip up and keeps in the fridge for a few weeks. It makes delicious cocktails or iced lattes.
- 1 cup of blackberries (15-16 berries)
- 3/4 cup of water
- 3/4 cup of sugar
Add the sugar, water, and blackberries to a small saucepan on medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then continue cooking until it comes to a strong simmer.
Simmer for five minutes, then use a potato masher or similar thing to smash the blackberries. Cook for another couple minutes, then remove from heat. Let it cool. Then strain through a mesh strainer to remove all the pulp. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Once you have your blackberry syrup, this drink is as easy as adding all the ingredients to a shaker halfway filled with ice, shaking for at least 15 seconds, TASTING (make sure it’s to your liking), adjusting if needed, and straining into a pretty glass. Or an ugly glass, I guess, if that’s how you roll. The full recipe is below!
Other fruity but not-too-sweet drink recipes you’ll love:
- “Mayan Sour” (Spiced Banana Whiskey Sour)
- Tropical Vibes: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Cocktail
- A Sassy, Juicy Summer Drink: Strawberry Black Pepper Gin Cocktail
- A Refreshing Basil Gin Smash
- A Classic “Army and Navy” Gin Cocktail
- Blood Orange Amaretto Whiskey Sour
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Blackberry Aperol Gin Cocktail a.k.a. "Ma'am Don't Be Silly"
This delicious blackberry Aperol gin cocktail is a perfect balance of fruit, tart, sweet, and bitter...it's a refreshing and easy drink any time of year, but screams "spring!" to me in particular!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of good gin (not as juniper forward)
- 3/4 ounce of Aperol (I go a bit light)
- 3/4 ounce of fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce of blackberry syrup (sometimes more)
- Blackberry syrup
- 1 cup of blackberries (15-16 berries)
- 3/4 cup of water
- 3/4 cup of sugar
Instructions
- To make the blackberry syrup: Add the sugar, water, and blackberries to a small saucepan on medium heat. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, then continue cooking until it comes to a strong simmer.
- Simmer for five minutes, then use a potato masher or similar thing to smash the blackberries. Cook for another couple minutes, then remove from heat. Let it cool. Then strain through a mesh strainer to remove all the pulp. Store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
- To make the cocktail: Fill your shaker halfway with ice. Add all the ingredients and shake for at least 15 seconds. Taste, and adjust amounts as needed (sometimes mine needs a bit more syrup). Strain into a coupe glass.
Notes
You can substitute Campari for Aperol, but I'd go with 1/2 ounce instead of 3/4 in that case
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