What's special

A simple late-summer mocktail with fresh berries, bright lemon and a delicate herbal note.

Some drinks are made for celebrating. Others simply make an ordinary afternoon feel a little more special.

This blackberry, lemon and rosemary spritz falls somewhere in between. It is fresh, lightly sweet and wonderfully sparkling, with ripe blackberries bringing a deep fruity flavour and lemon adding just enough acidity to keep everything balanced.

A small sprig of rosemary gives the drink a subtle herbal note without overpowering the fruit. The result feels a little more thoughtful than a traditional lemonade, while remaining very simple to prepare.

It is especially lovely at the end of summer, when blackberries are plentiful, but frozen berries work just as well. The blackberry syrup can also be made in advance, leaving only the ice and sparkling ingredients to add when it is time to serve.

A Simple Drink for Everyone

Serving a non-alcoholic option does not have to mean opening a bottle of juice or pouring another glass of sparkling water.

With its rich berry colour and simple garnish, this spritz feels like a proper cocktail. It can be served at a family dinner, a weekend lunch or a small gathering, and everyone can enjoy it.

The recipe makes two glasses but is very easy to multiply for a larger group.

What’s Special

Naturally alcohol-free and suitable for the whole family
Made with fresh or frozen blackberries
Lightly sweetened with honey or maple syrup
Easy to prepare ahead of time
Simple enough for everyday meals but elegant enough for entertaining

Blackberry, Lemon and Rosemary Spritz

A refreshing non-alcoholic spritz made with homemade blackberry syrup, fresh lemon, rosemary, ginger ale and sparkling water.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Cooling Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings: 2 glasses

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: French

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

For the blackberry syrup

½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small sprig fresh rosemary

For the spritz

1 cup cold sparkling water
Fresh blackberries for serving
Lemon slices for serving
Small rosemary sprigs optional

Equipment

Small saucepan
Wooden spoon or fork
Fine-mesh strainer Optional
Two serving glasses

Method

Place the blackberries, honey or maple syrup, lemon juice and rosemary in a small saucepan.
Warm over low to medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, gently crushing the blackberries as they soften.
Once the fruit has released its juices and the mixture has become slightly syrupy, remove the saucepan from the heat.
Remove the rosemary. For a smoother drink, strain the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing gently on the fruit. Leave it unstrained if you prefer a more rustic texture.
Allow the blackberry syrup to cool completely.
Fill two glasses with ice and divide the syrup between them.
Pour in the ginger ale or ginger beer, then top with sparkling water.
Stir gently and garnish with fresh blackberries, lemon slices and a small sprig of rosemary.

Notes

A Few Simple Variations:

For a slightly warmer, early-autumn flavour, add a tiny pinch of cinnamon to the blackberries while they cook.

If you prefer a sweeter drink, use ginger ale. For something less sweet and a little spicier, choose an alcohol-free ginger beer.

You can also replace the blackberries with raspberries or a mixture of late-summer berries.

Make It Ahead

The blackberry syrup can be prepared up to three days in advance and stored in a covered container in the refrigerator.

Wait until serving to add the sparkling water and ginger ale so the drink remains fresh and bubbly.

A small homemade syrup, plenty of ice and a few simple garnishes are all it takes to turn seasonal fruit into a drink that feels quietly special.

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @thesmallplenty on Instagram and hashtag it #thesmallplenty.