Vodka, Blackberry & St. Germain Liqueur co*cktail (2024)

This co*cktail is a luscious combination of Vodka, Blackberries, Lemon, and St Germain liqueur. It’s beautiful too!

When I first published this co*cktail almost ten years ago, I named it The Caberet co*cktail, same as the restaurant where I first enjoyed the libation. Ten years later I know that no one is searching for it, the restaurant is even gone, so we’re here again, more organically as a Vodka, Blackberry & St. Germain Liqueur co*cktail It’s too good to be lost in the archives forever.

I was sad to hear of the demise of Colt & Gray in downtown Denver, it was a beautiful place and we always enjoyed their food and co*cktails. They closed their doors in December of 2019, so before the Covid curve; simply victims of rising rents in a pricey part of downtown.

On that first visit, I was invited to join Sarah Gore, a local marketing rep; we had talked on the phone yet I know she wondered if I was really real and so that day, I decided to make an extra effort to arrive at the #twEATdrink event she had pulled together in downtown Denver.

I unabashedly admit I’m a suburban girl and offer no apologies for that. The effort to get to Sarah’s event was predicated by my schedule and getting out of my office before the rush hour traffic is in full on mode.

If I don’t plan that well…well, then there is no point; stop and go traffic is one of the things in this world that drives me BONKERS.

As it was, I left too late at 4:30pm and that resulted in an hour trip getting there for what is typically a 25 minute drive so the next time I’m taking my laptop, leaving at 2pm and doing some work with a co*cktail in my hand to avoid a recurrence!

We met in the bar and Sarah was everything I expected…warm and friendly and surrounded by a circle of people for an evening of socializing with both old and new friends brought together by the magic of Twitter.

Sarah worked with the establishment prior to our arrival and we were given a list of specials that had been made just for us including co*cktails, beer and some bar snacks.

Kevin Burke, the Head Barman had done us well with three fabulous co*cktails; the Applejack Sazerac with Applejack, Maple syrup, Bitters and Pastis; the Hanky-Panky Updated consisting of Dry Gin, Dolin Rouge and Fernet and the one I chose for my libation, the Caberet co*cktail with St. Germain Liqueur, vodka, blackberries, and lemon.

And I mean lemon…this is no rim of the glass or simple lemon twist; no, this drink has pucker power in the mix. For me though it was the lure of the St. Germain liqueur from France.

I’ve only had one co*cktail before with this elixir made from the elderflower and I was anxious to see how Kevin worked with it’s almost mysterious blend of sweet and citrus. Isn’t that the most beautiful bottle ever?

Kevin labeled this drink as refreshing and that’s true but I also thought it was beautiful. I thought my daughter would love this but I know she might prefer it a bit sweeter. So for her and her friends I made them a batch using lemon syrup with lemon juice and sugar; just a bit of sweet to cut the tartness I loved.

I liked both; depends on the mood but the flavor of the combined ingredients is the real star. I’ll have to experiment some more won’t I? Don’t cry for me…it’s a job and someone has to do it!

I remember how generous the bartender was too, he gave me napkins, swizzle sticks and even the square glass I loved to help me recreate not just the libation but the ‘feel’ of a bar in my photo studio. I used them for this update too…seems fair to keep that memory right?

I’ve got the blackberries and the alcohol…seems like the perfect Sunday afternoon for a gorgeous drink. Cheers!

More of our Favorite co*cktails

• Winter White Cosmopolitan
• Blackberry Collins co*cktail with St Germain
• Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade

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