Nothing beats a bright, refreshing mocktail. This smashed blackberry mocktail with thyme and lemon is fruity, herb-forward, citrusy and perfectly balanced. It’s light, invigorating, and a great way to switch things up from plain water.
I love a well-made mocktail. While staying hydrated with plain water is important, sometimes you want a drink that feels a little more special. This blackberry mocktail is alcohol-free and built from smashed blackberries, fresh lemon juice, thyme-infused simple syrup, and sparkling water. It’s ideal for late spring and summer, and you can also make it with frozen blackberries in colder months or for Dry January.
The simple ingredients you’ll need to make this blackberry mocktail:
Blackberries: Sweet, juicy berries give this drink vibrant flavor and color. Fresh blackberries picked during the June–September season are ideal, but grocery-store berries or thawed frozen fruit work fine year-round.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, but 100% bottled lemon juice (not the citric acid blend) is a convenient alternative.
Thyme simple syrup: Regular simple syrup works, but a thyme-infused syrup complements blackberries beautifully and adds an herbal note.
Sparkling water: Use sparkling mineral water, club soda, or soda water. You can also substitute kombucha or ginger beer for more flavor — note that using kombucha or ginger beer will change the sugar and calorie content.
How to make this easy mocktail recipe:
Combine the blackberries, thyme simple syrup and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker or a mason jar. Use a muddler or a sturdy spoon to smash the berries until they release their juices and form a syrupy mixture.
Fill a glass with crushed or cubed ice. Strain the smashed blackberry mixture into the glass using a cocktail shaker or a small strainer. If you prefer a more rustic presentation, you can skip straining — small pieces of blackberry may remain, which is delicious if you don’t mind a bit of texture.
Top with sparkling water, gently stir to combine, and garnish with a lemon wedge, a skewer of blackberries, and a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
Expert tips and variation ideas:
- Swap sparkling water for kombucha or ginger beer for more flavor complexity.
- Use fresh lime juice and a lime wedge instead of lemon for a blackberry-lime version.
- Try other berries: strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries all work well.
- For cocktails, add 1–1½ oz of vodka, tequila, gin or rum to turn this into a boozy blackberry drink (vodka for a smash, tequila for a margarita-style twist, or gin for botanical accents).
- Add a splash of half-and-half or full-fat coconut milk for a creamy, Italian-soda–style drink.
FAQs
Yes — thaw them slightly so they’re easy to smash.
Garnish with a lemon slice or wedge, a skewer of 3–4 blackberries, and a couple of fresh thyme sprigs for a pretty presentation.
Adjust the thyme simple syrup to taste: add more for sweetness or reduce/eliminate it for a less sweet drink.
Use plain simple syrup, honey, maple syrup, or thin some blackberry jam with water for extra berry flavor.
Yes — this mocktail adapts well to spirits. Add 1–1½ oz of your preferred spirit to make a cocktail.
If you love this blackberry mocktail recipe you’ll love these other non-alcoholic beverages!
Mango smoothie
Blueberry pineapple smoothie
Pomegranate lime refresher
Layered strawberry matcha
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Refreshing Smashed Blackberry Mocktail
Description
This blackberry mocktail is a lovely alcohol-free option for a dinner party or any time you want a refreshing beverage. It has beautiful color, bright flavor, and is a tasty way to drink more water.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh blackberries
- 3/4 oz thyme simple syrup (or regular simple syrup)
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 8 oz sparkling water, club soda, or kombucha
Instructions
1. Combine the blackberries, thyme simple syrup and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker or mason jar. Use a muddler or sturdy spoon to crush the berries and release their juices.
2. Fill a glass with ice. Strain the blackberry mixture into the glass with a strainer or by pouring from the shaker. You can skip straining if you prefer a more rustic texture.
3. Top with sparkling water, gently stir, and garnish with a lemon wedge, a skewer of blackberries, and thyme sprigs.
Notes
See the article above for FAQs, tips, and variation ideas.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Blackberry mocktail
- Calories: 58
- Sugar: 12.8 g
- Sodium: 0.6 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.4 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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