Every mobile bar service has that one cocktail — the one that stops people mid-conversation, the one that gets ordered twice, the one that has guests walking up to the bar asking what is that person drinking?

For us, it's the Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash.

This cocktail has become Simply Spiked's signature for a reason. It's the most requested drink on our specialty cocktail menu, a frequent pick for grooms choosing their wedding signature cocktail, and a crowd favorite at corporate events. We once did an annual holiday party for a local electrical company, and the guys loved it so much that we ended up writing the recipe down on cards to hand out at the end of the night. When your cocktail has people asking for the recipe to take home, you know you've got something special.

So here it is — the full recipe, including our house-made sage syrup, so you can make it at home or get inspired for your next event.

The Recipe

Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash

Yield: 1 cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Redemption Bourbon
  • 1 oz house-made sage simple syrup (recipe below)
  • .75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 3–4 fresh blackberries
  • Crushed ice

Garnish:

  • Fresh sage leaves
  • Lemon slice
  • Mini clothespin (to clip the sage to the glass)

Method:

  1. Add the blackberries and sage syrup to a cocktail shaker and gently muddle — just enough to break the berries open and release their juice. You're not making jam here, so a few firm presses will do.
  2. Add the bourbon and fresh lemon juice.
  3. Fill the shaker with ice and shake hard for about 10–12 seconds.
  4. Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
  5. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf and a lemon slice, clipped to the rim with a mini clothespin.

The Secret: House-Made Sage Simple Syrup

This cocktail lives and dies by the sage syrup. It's what gives the drink its earthy, herbal backbone — the thing that makes it taste layered and intentional rather than just sweet. And the good news is, it's incredibly easy to make.

Sage Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 8–10 fresh sage leaves

Method:

  1. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved — don't let it boil.
  3. Remove from heat and add the fresh sage leaves.
  4. Let the sage steep for at least 30 minutes. The longer you steep, the more pronounced the sage flavor will be. We usually go about 45 minutes for a well-rounded, savory sweetness.
  5. Strain out the sage leaves and transfer the syrup to a jar or bottle.
  6. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

That's it. Once you have this syrup in your fridge, you're five minutes away from one of the best bourbon cocktails you've ever had.

Why This Cocktail Works So Well at Events

There's a reason the Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash has become our go-to recommendation for clients building a signature cocktail menu — it checks every box that matters for an event setting.

It's visually striking. The deep purple of the muddled blackberries against the amber bourbon, topped with a bright green sage leaf and a lemon slice clipped to the glass — this drink looks like it belongs on a menu. Guests notice it immediately, and it photographs beautifully, which matters more than ever in the age of wedding and event photography.

It appeals to a wide range of palates. Bourbon-forward enough to satisfy whiskey drinkers, but the blackberry sweetness and herbal sage notes make it approachable for people who wouldn't normally order a bourbon drink. It bridges the gap between a classic cocktail and something more adventurous, which is exactly what you want from a signature drink at an event with diverse tastes.

It's seasonal without being limiting. The blackberry and sage combination feels natural in late summer and early fall — prime wedding season in Connecticut — but it works year-round. We've served it at summer backyard weddings and winter holiday parties with equal enthusiasm from guests.

It sparks conversation. The mini clothespin garnish, the sage leaf, the rich color — people ask about it. They want to know what's in it, how it's made, where the idea came from. For a signature cocktail at a wedding or corporate event, that kind of engagement is exactly what you want. It gives guests something to talk about and makes the bar experience feel curated and intentional.

A Groom's Favorite

One of the things we love about designing signature cocktails for weddings is learning what each person gravitates toward. Brides and grooms often have very different drink preferences, and that's part of what makes choosing two signature cocktails so fun — each drink gets to reflect a different personality.

The Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash has become an especially popular choice among grooms. There's something about the combination of bourbon, fresh ingredients, and a presentation that feels refined but not fussy that resonates. It's a cocktail that feels confident and intentional without trying too hard — which, when you think about it, is exactly how most grooms want their wedding to feel.

When a couple selects this as one of their two signature cocktails, we often see it paired with something lighter on the bride's side — a Lavender Lemon Collins, a Watermelon Mint Refresher, or a Cucumber Basil Cooler. The contrast between the two drinks gives guests options and adds another layer of personalization to the bar experience.

Tips for Making This at Home

If you're making the Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash for a dinner party or just for yourself on a Friday night, here are a few tips to get the best result:

Use fresh blackberries. Frozen will work in a pinch, but fresh berries muddle better and give you a cleaner flavor. Look for berries that are deep in color and slightly soft — they'll release more juice.

Don't skip the sage syrup. It might be tempting to substitute with plain simple syrup and just muddle a sage leaf in the shaker. It won't be the same. The steeped syrup distributes the sage flavor evenly throughout the drink in a way that a single muddled leaf can't match.

Fresh lemon juice only. This goes for any cocktail, but it's especially important here. The brightness of fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness of the syrup and the richness of the bourbon. Bottled lemon juice will make the whole drink taste flat.

Crushed ice matters. The crushed ice isn't just for aesthetics — it chills the drink faster and creates a slightly diluted, more sippable cocktail as it melts. If you don't have a crushed ice machine, wrap standard ice cubes in a clean towel and give them a few solid whacks with a rolling pin.

Have fun with the garnish. The mini clothespin holding the sage leaf to the rim is a small detail, but it's the kind of touch that makes people smile. You can find mini clothespins at any craft store or online for a few dollars. It's a tiny investment that makes the presentation feel polished and intentional.

Want This Cocktail at Your Next Event?

The Blackberry Sage Bourbon Smash is available as part of our signature cocktail add-on with any Simply Spiked bar package. You can choose it alongside one of our other specialty cocktails — or work with us to design something completely custom that's unique to your event.

We love walking couples, corporate clients, and party hosts through the process of choosing signature drinks that match their style, their season, and their crowd. It's one of our favorite parts of what we do.

Interested in adding signature cocktails to your event? Get in touch with your event date and details, and let's start building your menu.

Simply Spiked — Mobile Cocktails & Tap | Simplyspikedct.com | 860-808-6360

‍