Vodka Blackberry Smash Inspired By Where The Crawdads Sing

Are you looking for a unique Blackberry Smash recipe? You’ll love this refreshing literary cocktail inspired by Where The Crawdads Sing.

As avid book readers, we are sure that by now you’ve heard all of the hype about Delia Owen’s Where The Crawdads Sing.

(Or the controversy about Delia Owens, which we learned much later – including after making this recipe.)

Owens transports readers to the picturesque North Carolina marshland where Kya Clark, the “marsh girl,” wants nothing more than to live in peace with nature, fall in love, and gain acceptance from the community.

Where The Crawdads Sing takes a surprising twist when the townspeople accuse Kya of murdering beloved pretty boy Chase Andrews.

A lyrical novel about prejudices and overcoming hardship infused with North Carolinian ambiance, we wanted to create a Blackberry Smash cocktail in honor of Kya.

This Blackberry Smash recipe is perfect for those warmer days and boasts colors that match the shimmering NC night skies.

Let’s not forget those mouthwatering local fruits, too.

So, we asked our favorite Asheville distillery, Cultivated Cocktails, to help us make an eccentric Blackberry Smash vodka cocktail. Let’s get started!

Find more great literary cocktails here.

Blackberry Smash Cocktail

What Is A Blackberry Smash?

If you like Mint Juleps, this Blackberry Smash recipe will sing to you.

Popular in the 1800s, the [Whiskey] Smash literally originated from the idea of “smashing” (muddling or shaking) mint into the drink.

While you may choose to muddle up some blackberries for our Smash, flavored or homemade syrup will work just as well.

What Makes Our Blackberry Vodka Smash Different?

Our Where The Crawdads Sing-inspired Smash invokes a North Carolina sunset over the mountains vibe:

Find an invigorating and not too sweet fizzy pink and purple drink.

Our Blackberry Smash has some spice just like the Where The Crawdads Sing plotline and our strong female protagonist.

Many people use whiskey or bourbon for the traditional cocktail, but this time, we’ve enlisted a smooth vodka.

We’ve also decided to forgo the typical rocks glass and jazz up this smash with a champagne flute – The Uncorked Librarian-style.

What Cocktail Tools Should You Have Handy?

Here at TUL, we are all about keeping your drinks pretty simple. Less cooking time equals more reading time.

To make this literary cocktail you will need:

A Cocktail Shaker

We don’t own anything special, but you’ll definitely want to invest in a cocktail shaker or cocktail kit. Cocktail shakers are a quick way to mix up your bevie.

Double Jigger

Another great cocktail-making investment, a double jigger is a must to measure your spirits and add-ins.

We prefer jiggers that also have small, incremented measurements notched on the inside, even though we are notorious for eyeballing amounts.

Bar Spoon

A bar spoon is great for stirring without getting sticky as well as for measuring your ingredients.

If you don’t have a bar spoon, though, please don’t fret. Just use one teaspoon instead.

What Ingredients Do You Need?

So, what do you need to stock up on to make our Where The Crawdads Smash cocktail recipe? Nothing too intense, we promise!

You’ll need:

• Vodka (we used Cultivated Cocktails’ Vodka spirit)
• Blackberry syrup
• Lemon juice
• Honey
• Ice for the shaker
• Ginger beer
• Fresh blackberries to garnish

And, don’t forget your copy of Where The Crawdads Sing.

How Do You Make This Blackberry Smash Vodka Cocktail?

This cocktail is super easy, even for the novice home bartender.

Since we are using pre-made syrup, add the blackberry syrup, lemon juice, honey, and vodka.

Shake for at least 30 seconds with ice. Strain and pour the liquid into a champagne flute (or rocks/lowball glass, if you wish to go traditional).

Top with ginger beer, and if you like, add a few fresh blackberries. Ginger will give that bad boy a kick…just like someone did to Chase Andrews. Too soon?! Too soon?!

Book Pairing Recommendations:

Of course, your Blackberry Vodka Smash needs a book (and a cat).

If you’ve already read Where The Crawdads Sing, you might find your next great read in one of our southern book lists:

• Deep-Fried Books Set In The South
• North Carolina Novels To Read Before You Go
• Famous North Carolina Authors (on Uncorked Asheville)
• Asheville Authors
• Books Set In Asheville

Have you made a Vodka Blackberry Smash? And, have you read Where The Crawdads Sing?

Have you read Where The Crawdads Sing? What did you think? Did you guess who killed Chase Andrews?

You might also prefer the movie…

If you make our Blackberry Smash recipe, please let us know what you think in the comments.

This was our first-ever literary cocktail recipe on The Uncorked Librarian. We are looking forward to making literary libations.

Even More Literary Cocktails For You:

Shades and the Giant Peach: Peach and Gin Cocktail
Smokey Old Fashioned For Book Lovers

More About The Creator Of This Literary Cocktail, Cultivated Cocktails

Cultivated Cocktails is a family-owned distillery in Asheville with a multigenerational history in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

They produce award-winning spirits each year. 

Beginning in 2012 with the distilling process, Cultivated Cocktails soon launched its first product, Hazel 63 Rum, in 2016.

Each product pays tribute to their family or history in Asheville, North Carolina. Crafting products that speak for themselves is an important part of their mission. 

A Note About Their Vodka

Cultivated Cocktails’ pure vodka is a corn-based neutral spirit infused with fresh mountain air and filtered through a silver-impregnated carbon filter.

The rare, specialty filter creates a modern twist on a vintage process, affecting the smooth and crisp feel of the vodka.

A Special Thank You To Sarah Resta Photography

The pictures featured in this post are from our partner, Sarah Resta Photography.

Sarah Resta is both a local and international engagement and wedding photographer available for hire.

Sarah also works with small businesses and bloggers, like The Uncorked Librarian & Uncorked Asheville. You can find Sarah on Facebook and Instagram. Email: [email protected]