Blackberry Long Island Iced Tea

   Before getting underway with this post let me just say:  I HATE APPLE!!!  I hated Macs in 5th grade when I pretended to use them for reading class (because no one explained how they work), and I hate this god forsaken iPod.  User friendly my ass....

   This would be the perfect thing to make me forget about my burning, passionate abhorrence.  However, it isn't even 9 am.  I will continue to sip my coffee calmly waiting until Louis gets home to transfer the one lonely album from iTunes to the iPod or until 5 pm rolls around so I can make myself one of these bad boys.  (Also, I find Apple rather arrogant in their capitalization of a non-primary letter.)

   Sorry, back to the drink.  T.G.I. Friday has been boasting blackberry drinks for a while now.  Yet, it seems every time I am there, the bar has just run out of blackberries.  I managed to order one once.  It was good, but the blackberries were frozen/thawed.  Frozen berries would be a great substitute out of season, but fresh berries are magical.  We bought some fresh blackberries at a local produce stand.  They are tart, sweet, juicy, and giant!  The perfect fruity compliment to the onslaught of alcohol in a Long Island.   

Blackberry Long Island Iced Tea

1 1/2 oz gin

1 1/2 oz vodka

1 1/2 oz tequila

1 1/2 oz rum

1 oz blackberry liqueur

1 oz simple syrup (more or less depending on sweetness of berries)*

juice of one large lemon

cola

blackberries

   In the bottom of two glasses, mash 2-3 blackberries (more if they are small). 

   In a cocktail shaker, add alcohols, liqueur, simple syrup, and lemon juice.  Add a handful of ice and shake well.  Divide between the two glasses.  Fill with ice and add a splash of cola.  Garnish with a fresh berry.

   Serves 2.

   *Simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water heated until sugar is dissolved completely into water then cooled.  Make a 1C:1C amount and store the extra in a squeeze bottle so you have it on hand.

   **Use high quality liquors, especially for gin and tequila, so the flavors blend well and nothing over powers the drink.