This Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Smash will make you the toast of the town!
Though you’re likely to think that these plump blackberries are the star of today’s show – the real star is Alessi’s Ginger Infused White Balsamic Reduction! This reduction creates a gorgeous nuanced flavor of ginger, with sweet balsamic undertones, making this berry-licious Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Smash a new favorite cocktail in our house!
I was challenged to think outside the box and show proof that reductions can be used in a variety of ways. I am here to tell you – reductions are not just for fancy dishes, anymore! All kinds of dishes, and beverages (ahem), can be enhanced by this magical tasting drizzle.
I adore Alessi’s line of Balsamic Reductions, mostly for their flavors(!) but also because they’re free of any thickeners or fillers.
If you’ve never made one yourself, a reduction is created by taking a liquid, like vinegar, and thickening and intensifying its flavor into a sauce. Many reductions or glazes on the market fill their reductions with starches and other ingredients to make them thicker. Alessi’s is a lighter, thinner reduction making it great for drizzling over foods or into cocktails without being heavy.
Reductions can add flavor to cheese plates, salads, roasted meats, vegetables, chocolate and fruits, which brings me to our Blackberry Smash. Blackberry and ginger have always been a favorite flavor combination of mine. As I was taste testing the reductions – the ginger balsamic got me excited to pair with one of my favorite berries. At first I was thinking I’d make something baked, and while sharing my thoughts with Luc, she mentioned the idea of a cocktail. Ding ding ding! Balsamic cocktails are delicious! And I love the idea of a Smash! A Smash, in general, is a cocktail that includes a spirit, sweetener, herb and seasonal fruit.
This Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Smash contains:
- Vodka —-> Spirit
- Agave syrup —->Sweetener
- Ginger Balsamic Reduction —-> Herb
- Blackberries —-> Seasonal Fruit
- Crushed Ice
- Ginger Ale
Alessi’s reductions have found a cozy place to call home in my kitchen…and my cocktails!
Here’s more good news – you can find the full line of Balsamic Reductions (of which there are many) and other Alessi products, at your local grocery store and online. Also, you can follow Alessi Foods on social media! Facebook, Instagram & Twitter!
Salute!
Print
Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Smash
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cocktail
Ingredients
- 10 fresh blackberries, divided
- 1 Tbsp. agave syrup
- 2 tsp. Alessi Ginger Balsamic Reduction
- 1.5 ounces vodka
- Crushed ice, about a handful
- Splash of ginger ale
Instructions
- Add 7 blackberries and agave syrup to a cocktail shaker.
- Using a muddler or bottom of a wooden spoon, muddle until berries are broken down.
- Add Ginger Balsamic Reduction, Vodka and crushed ice to shaker.
- Shake for a couple seconds until combined.
- Pour into a rocks glass.
- Top with a splash of ginger ale and a few whole berries.
- Enjoy!
{This post is sponsored by Alessi Foods but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.}
CIAO!
SO glad you reposted this fabulous recipe! Love the flavors and color of this refreshing sipper! xo
Thanks, friend! xo
Oh this sounds truly beautiful – that colour in just stunning!
And your photography is just wonderful 🙂
Thanks so much, Alexandra! This is a keeper! 🙂
This is my kind of craft cocktail, Annie! Beautiful, refreshing and I’m so intrigued by the white balsamic reduction! I make drinking vinegars all summer long so I know I would love this libation! Cheers!
I want to hang with you, my friend! I think you’ll love this, Marissa!
This is a beautiful looking drink! All I need is one of these and some warm sunshine and I’d be one happy girl!
Oh gosh – I’d love some warm sunshine!! We’re patiently awaiting, too!! Thanks, my friend!
What a beautifully enticing cocktail! The reduction sounds fabulous and those black berries are the best!! You’ve made me thirsty and ready for cocktail hour ?!! Take care.
Why thank you, my friend! This is a yummy one! 🙂
This looks so refreshing, Annie – love the smashed up blackberries. I haven’t had blackberries in a while but they bring back memories – we used to pick bucket loads of wild ones when I was a kid. I’ve never thought of using a vinegar reduction in a drink before – what a great idea – I will have to look for the Alessia brand! Have a good weekend!
Well that’s a gorgeous memory! Buckets full of blackberries! I highly recommend Alessi reductions…they have a huge variety! So happy you like the drink, my friend! Thank you!
I’m loving this drink! Blackberry and ginger sounds like such a delicious combo, and the balsamic addition sounds even better. Wish I was sipping on this!
This is a nice sippin’ drink! Thanks, friend!!
‘Love how pretty and innovative this is. Wonderful idea. Smash’ is the thing I need so badly today — and your beautiful pictures making me drool. TGIF. Can’t wait to try it for myself. 🙂
TGIF! Yes! Today just may call for a Smash! Enjoy!! Salute! 🙂
Yum! I’ve never thought of a reduction in a cocktail before. What a great idea. Beautiful pictures too
Thanks so much, Cara!
Cheers to reductions in cocktails! Pinning and you just gave me an idea for a series of summer cocktails featuring crazy styles of craft beer:) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ahhhh! That sounds wonderful! Glad I could help! 😉 Cheers!
Omg, this cocktail is creative genius at its finest, Annie!!!!!! It’s so gosh darn pretty and the flavor sounds amazing! I have a bottle of Alessi’s Raspberry White Balsamic Reduction and I love it. Now I need to get my hands on the ginger flavor because I totally need this cocktail. Immediately! Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend!
Aren’t Alessi’s reductions delicious?! Such depth of flavor! So happy you like the cocktail! You certainly know your way around a spirit! Have a great weekend, Chey!
The pictures are gorgeous, Annie, as is this cocktail! We love the balsamic reduction but have never tried that brand (going to see if they sell it at our Italian store). The use you did in this cocktail is just amazing! I can imagine all the flavors together how great they work. We are not that good with cocktails so I have a Pinterest board called drinks where I pin all the beautiful inspirations like yours! Pinned!
Awhh! Thank you so much, Nicoletta! This is actually as easy a cocktail as they come…all the hard work is done for you since the sweetener (agave) and reduction are done for you! Hope you give it a try! I’d love to know what you think! Salute!
I’m really wishing it wasn’t 7 in the morning right now. I want one of these so bad! Blackberries and ginger and balsamic all together in one drink? Yes, yes, a million times yes! This baby is definitely going to make an appearance in my life very soon :). Have a great weekend!
Hahaha! I hear you! Before we know it it’ll be the weekend, and this can be a nice addition to our merriment! Thank you, my friend! Salute!
Can you see me raising my hand? I want one of these now and it’s morning! What a great idea to use balsamic reduction in a cocktail and I love all the flavors you have going on in here. Cheers girl!
I can! I can! It has fruit – I say it’s acceptable for breakfast! 😉 Thanks, my dear! Cheers! xo
I’m all in, Annie… the ‘smash’ did me in! One of my favorite ways to use seasonal fruit is to smash it up with bourbon or vodka. But I’d never thought to add balsamic to a cocktail – talk about a flavor bomb!! I’ve gotta give this a go… like this weekend! 😀 I’ll be on the lookout for Alessi! 😀
You were the first person who I learned about the ‘smash’ from! Your cocktails are always so interesting! I think you’ll really like the Alessi line of reductions…so many to choose from! Thank you, my friend!
We’re both thinking cocktails today Annie! And what an interesting cocktail this one is! It sounds amazing. I’ve never tried adding a reduction to my drinks. I’ll need to look for this ginger infused one. I bet it’s wonderful. Cheers!
Oooh – can’t wait to see what you’ve created, today! When we got to thinking about using the reduction in a cocktail I was thinking combination shrub and balsamic cocktail…Smash it was! It’s funny the process you’ll go through before coming up with the final recipe! So happy you like it! Thank you, Mary Ann!
Absolutely beautiful and I am totally loving the combination of blackberries with the balsamic. I love this balsamic reduction. The bit of ginger sounds so lovely 🙂
This is a tasty sipper! The little bit of ginger makes all the difference! Thank you, friend! Have a great weekend!
I’ve never thought to use a reduction in a cocktail before! Such a great idea, Annie. I can see why that’s the star of this drink, along with those gorgeous blackberries. This is calling my name, and it’s not even 7am yet…but it is 5:00 somewhere, right? 🙂
It is 5:00 somewhere – Let’s Go!!!! Thanks, Gayle! Have a great weekend, my friend! 🙂
You had me ‘smash’, Annie. You had me at smash. I don’t know why but the title alone just appeals to me! And the look of this cocktail? Gorgeous!! Hello Thirsty Thursday….I’ve been waiting for you 😉 I have a million pounds of blackberries home (ok, not a million, but a lot) and this would be perfect. If I could only get my little hands on that reduction now I’d be set! I’ll definitely have to check those guys out. Love that there’s not a bunch of fillers cause no one needs that! Pinned! This looks so refreshing! Cheers to a lovely weekend, my friend! XOXO
Oh my gosh – I am with you! I love the name Smash for a cocktail! I can’t resist it either! And it really captures the experience of the drink! You better get going with the million pounds of berries you have! 😉 I’ll be right over to help you with those! I highly recommend Alessi’s reductions – oh my! They’re amazing! Thanks for stopping by, my friend! Have a great weekend!! XOXO
Thank you so much, my friend! Love being part of this gorgeous group of posts!