If you think blueberries seem an odd companion for the beverage tray or bar cart, then it’s time to think outside the box. Blueberries add their inimitable color, ample juice and signature flavor to a range of warm weather libations like few other fresh berries. Shaken into cocktails, muddled into pitcher drinks, or added frozen to smoothies, blueberries are the versatile, easy-to-find ingredient that can make your summer beverages sing.
Blueberry Spritzer
In this warm weather sparkler, the four siblings from Brothers & Craft share their recipe for a light, refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for kicking off an evening alfresco. Serve in a tumbler for a casual feel, or pour it into a large wine glass filled with crushed ice.
Three-Berry Smoothies
Using frozen berries gives these smoothies a rich, thick texture and allows the drinks to be served without ice, which would dilute the flavor. The night before serving the smoothies, freeze the berries in a plastic container. If fresh fruits are unavailable, swap in store-bought frozen berries instead.
Blueberry-Verbena Collins
When you’re looking forward to a summer barbecue, the chattering of a cocktail shaker signals celebration and conviviality like nothing else. The recipe for this blueberry version of the classic Tom Collins cocktail serves two, so keep mixing and shaking if you’re serving a crowd.
Sparkling Blueberry Mint Lemonade
Fresh blueberries and mint lend a refreshing twist to classic lemonade, while sparkling water adds a bit of bubbly. Just right for warm summer days, this festive beverage is something that style icon Aerin Lauder might serve at leisurely summer gatherings at her family’s Hamptons home.
