Huckleberry Cocktail Recipe

Why I Love This Recipe

I love this Huckleberry Vodka Cocktail because it offers a unique and delightful twist on classic vodka drinks, with the sweet and tangy flavor of huckleberries adding a burst of fruity goodness. The combination of the smooth vodka and the vibrant huckleberry notes creates a refreshing and enjoyable cocktail that is perfect for any occasion.

Key Ingredients for a Huckleberry Vodka Cocktail

• Vodka - vodka in the cocktail provides an alcoholic base and adds a smooth and clean taste to the drink. Vodka is the ideal spirit for fruity muddled cocktails.
• Fresh huckleberries - fresh huckleberries bring a sweet and tart flavor to the cocktail, providing a unique and vibrant fruity note.
• Huckleberry syrup - huckleberry syrup contributes additional sweetness and intensifies the huckleberry flavor in the cocktail. It can be made using a recipe or store-bought.

*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.

Where to Find Wild Huckleberries

Huckleberries can be found mostly in the Pacific Northwest and Northwestern Forests. Huckleberries grow well in Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho.

Growing huckleberries at home is difficult, some think it's because they cannot build a large and deep root system. Regardless, if you are lucky enough to find wild huckleberries or huckleberries for sale, pick them or buy them!

Why Should You Muddle Ingredients in a Cocktail?

Muddling releases the flavors of fresh ingredients such as fruit or herbs and helps them bind to the alcohol. There are different types of muddlers that are made of wood, metal, bamboo, or stone.

Which type of Muddler to use

Muddlers with teeth should be used for berries or firm ingredients like rosemary. If you are muddling something delicate like mint or basil, use a muddler with no teeth. It's usually recommended to muddle in a metal shaker or bowl. Be careful if you have a class cocktail shaker, you don't want to break the glass!

How to Make a Huckleberry Vodka Cocktail with Mint

1. Gather all of the ingredients and bar tools and prepare your glass with fresh ice.
2. Place the huckleberries and mint leaves in the bottom of the cocktail shaker and muddle together, careful not to overly bruise or break up the mint. This will cause your drink to be bitter.
3. Add the additional ingredients to the cocktail shaker with a small amount of ice and shake for about 8-10 seconds to get everything nice and cold.
4. Pour the contents of the shaker into the prepared glass. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and enjoy. Cheers!

How to Muddle Mint and Huckleberries

When muddling a delicate ingredient like mint, you must be careful not to over-muddle and not to use a muddler with teeth. If you muddle mint too much, it will release the bitter chlorophyll which will end up in your cocktail. Instead, use a light hand and twist a few times to release the oils.

Since this Huckleberry Cocktail Recipe requires both the huckleberries and mint to be muddled, be extra careful not to over-muddle the mint with the berries. If you feel like the berries need more juices released, muddle each ingredient separately.

What to use if you don't have a muddler?

Use a wooden spoon or the rounded end of a utensil to gently mash the huckleberries and mint leaves. You can also use your hands or fingers, just smash the mint gently.

What Glass to Serve this Huckleberry Cocktail In

I served this Huckleberry Cocktail in a lowball glass, but you can also use a highball glass, martini glass, or cocktail glass. If you use a martini or cocktail glass, limit the amount of ice or use a chilled glass with no extra ice.

If you use a highball glass and have extra space, add more ice or top off with tonic water or club soda for a bubbly drink!

More Fun and Unique Cocktails to Try

• Grapefruit Tequila Cocktail
• Strawberry Gin Cocktail
• Coconut Margarita
• Lavender Pisco Sour
• Gin Elderflower Cocktail