The method
How to make it
Muddle a quarter cup of blueberries in the shaker until they surrender their purple.
Juice half an orange fresh. Its brightness lifts the dark skins of the blueberries, and the natural sugar means the syrup can stay light.
Add vodka, lemon juice, the orange juice and simple syrup.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain into a chilled coupe, pressing the pulp to keep every drop of color.
Garnish with three blueberries on a pick and a quarter wheel of the orange you juiced.
The serve
How to present it
The color does the heavy lifting, a deep violet that looks dyed but is pure fruit. Chilled coupe, berry pick, done. Make it in July when blueberries are cheap and actually taste like something.
Make it yours
Swaps & variations
Gin brings a botanical edge that suits the berries. A splash of club soda over ice turns it into a blueberry smash for the porch. Frozen wild blueberries punch above their weight here and stain twice as hard, wear an apron you do not love.
Keep pouring
