It is officially Autumn, and I am over the moon with excitement. This is the beginning of my favorite time of the year—something about Autumn makes me feel wonderful. It is the time of year that I spend more time alone, exploring and enjoying the endless gloomy days. During this time of the year, I read a lot, and yes, a glass of wine with a good book is fantastic, but some books call for a tasty cocktail. So today on BKLS, we are talking cocktails, not just any, but six blackberry cocktails to start Autumn the right way.

Whenever Autumn comes around, I do my best to eat as many fruits that will soon make way for many more delicious options. And Blackberries are one of those fruits, but I love having blackberries year round. So I do my best to have it as often as I can. I also freeze a few pounds of blackberries to use later in the year for smoothies, to add flavor to my water, and make delicious cocktails.

Blackberries are in season from mid-June to early October. And if you are not familiar with them [hardly likely], these plump, darkly colored berries taste deliciously sweet and melt in your mouth.

Blackberries are rich in fiber and antioxidants, and one cup provides half of your daily value of Vitamin C. They also contain some soluble fiber, which may help lower cholesterol, and as a seedy fruit, they help promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation.

Here are six delicious cocktails to try this Autumn.

Blackberry Martini

Ingredients

Three buds of cloves
2-Ounces of Vodka
Ten Blackberries plus more for garnishing
1-Ounce of Lime Juice
A dash of vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Chill your martini glass by filling it with ice.
2. Place the three buds of clove and ten blackberries in a cocktail shaker, then add two ounces of vodka.
3. Muddle the clove buds, berries, and vodka.
4. Add one-ounce lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
5. Then add a dash of vanilla extract.
6. Add ice or frozen blackberries to the cocktail shaker.
7. Shake the cocktail for about fifteen to twenty seconds. Then, pour out ice from the cocktail glass.
8. Pour the cocktail into the glass using a fine mesh strainer. And enjoy.

I made this Martini over the weekend, filmed it and I Can not wait to share it on Instagram. I am new to editing, so it takes longer than expected, but the cocktail was delicious.

Spicy Jalapeño Blackberry Margarita

Ingredients

Two-ounces Tequila
One-ounce Cointreau
One-ounce lime juice fresh squeezed, save wheels for garnish
A quarter ounce of simple syrup
Eight blackberries plus more for garnishing
One jalapeño pepper, only use two slices—more if you would like it extra spicy
Salt for rimming (optional)

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the blackberries and the jalapeño slices with the simple syrup.
2. Add the tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice to the shaker. Fill about three-quarters full of ice.
3. Shake vigorously for about thirty seconds to chill and dilute.
4. Run the lime around the edge of a cocktail glass and dip in salt [optional] Fill with ice.
5. Strain the cocktail into a glass and garnish with blackberries and lime wheel.
6. Enjoy.

Blackberry Tequila Smash

Ingredients

Ten Fresh blackberries, plus more for garnishing
One to two teaspoons of fresh rosemary, plus a sprig for serving
Juice from half of a lemon
One to two tablespoons of honey
1 1/2 – 2 ounces tequila or Mezcal
A couple of dashes of orange bitters
Sparkling water on top

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Add blackberries, rosemary, lemon juice, and honey to a cocktail shaker or glass jar. Muddle all of the ingredients together. Next, add the tequila and orange bitters.
3. Add ice to your glass and strain the drink over the ice.
4. Top the glass with a little more ice and sparkling water.
5. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with fresh rosemary. Enjoy.

Blackberry and Brown Sugar Bramble

Ingredients

Six blackberries
One tablespoon of dark brown sugar
1-ounce lemon juice [2 lemon wedges]
1-ounce Chambord
1.5 ounce Bourbon
Ice

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Add the blackberries, brown sugar, and lemon juice [and the lemon wedges] to a cocktail shaker and muddle the blackberries and lemons to release the juices and oils.
3. Pour in the Chambord, bourbon, and ice, and shake until chilled.
4. Pour [no need to strain] the cocktail into an old-fashioned glass over ice.
5. Garnish with more blackberries. And enjoy.

I love this recipe And have made it several times—over the weekend, I filmed the process, and I am excited to share it once I finish editing the video.

This recipe is courtesy of Jaylynn Little.

Blackberry Mojito

Ingredients

One medium lime
Eight fresh blackberries, plus more for garnishing
Six to eight torn fresh mint leaves, plus sprigs for garnish
Two teaspoons of superfine sugar
2-ounces of light rum
2 to 3-ounces of club soda

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Cut one wheel from the lime and set it aside for garnish. Slice the remainder into wedges for muddling.
3. Add eight blackberries, the torn mint leaves, lime wedges, and sugar in a double old-fashioned glass or tumbler. Muddle well to mash the fruits and dissolve the sugar.
4. Add the rum.
5. Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with club soda.
6. Garnish with a few blackberries and lime. And enjoy.

Blackberry Sidecar

Ingredients

3/4 ounce triple sec
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ten blackberries
1 1/2 ounces gin
One dash of plum bitters
Lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions

1. Gather the ingredients.
2. Add the triple sec, lemon juice, and blackberries to a cocktail shaker. Muddle well.
3. Add the gin and plum bitters, then fill with ice.
4. Shake Vigorously.
5. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
6. Garnish with a lemon twist. And enjoy!

Comment below what is your favorite cocktail.