Blueberry Old Fashioned: A Summer Recipe with Bourbon

Blueberry Old Fashioned cocktail served in a rocks glass on a home bar, warm editorial lighting, with a hand visible in the composition
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By Kevin Lawton · Founder, RyeCentral · Updated May 5, 2026 RyeCentral Lab Tested
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The Blueberry Old Fashioned is the summer fruit variation that captures peak-season blueberries in cocktail form. Blueberries have less aromatic complexity than blackberries or cherries, but they bring a clean sweet-tart fruit character that pairs naturally with bourbon's vanilla. Best built in mid-July through August when local blueberries are at peak; works year-round with frozen blueberries (which actually preserve flavor well).

Ingredients Makes 1
  • 2 oz
    Bourbon
  • 8–10
    Fresh blueberries muddled until broken
  • ⅛ oz
    Demerara syrup less syrup — blueberries are sweet
  • 2 dashes
    Angostura bitters
  • 1 swath
    Lemon peel expressed and dropped in
  • 1 large
    Ice rock single big piece only
  • 3
    Whole blueberries on a pick, for garnish
Method 7 steps
  1. 1

    Place 8–10 fresh blueberries in a rocks glass.

  2. 2

    Add ⅛ oz demerara syrup and 2 dashes Angostura.

  3. 3

    Muddle 8–10 times until berries are broken down.

  4. 4

    Add one large ice rock.

  5. 5

    Pour 2 oz bourbon over.

  6. 6

    Stir 25–30 times.

  7. 7

    Express lemon peel; drop in. Garnish with 3 blueberries on a pick.

Pro Tip

Use wild blueberries when you can find them — smaller, more intensely flavored, less watery than cultivated. Frozen-then-thawed wild blueberries work better than fresh cultivated. The color difference (deep purple vs blue) tells you which is which.

Why Lemon, Not Orange

Blueberry-and-lemon is canonical (lemon-blueberry muffins, blueberry-lemon scones). Lemon brightens blueberry's mellow sweetness; orange compounds the sweetness and produces a flatter cocktail.

Variations

  • Blueberry-Basil Old Fashioned: Add 2 fresh basil leaves to the muddle. Basil + blueberry = sophisticated summer pairing.
  • Blueberry-Lavender Old Fashioned: Add ½ tsp dried culinary lavender to the muddle. Use sparingly — lavender turns soapy quickly.
  • Blueberry-Maple Old Fashioned: Replace demerara with maple syrup. Drinks like blueberry pancakes in a glass.

Stock the bar with bourbon for fruit variations and rye for the classic build.

Shop Best Rye for Cocktails

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make a Blueberry Old Fashioned?

Muddle 8–10 fresh blueberries with ⅛ oz demerara and 2 dashes Angostura. Add ice rock and 2 oz bourbon. Stir 25–30 times. Express lemon peel. Garnish with 3 blueberries on a pick.

Frozen blueberries instead of fresh?

Yes — frozen actually works very well for muddled cocktails. The freezing process breaks down cell walls, releasing more flavor when muddled. Thaw fully and drain excess liquid before using.

Bourbon or rye?

Bourbon. Vanilla pairs with blueberry's mellow sweetness. Rye's pepper fights the fruit.

What season is best?

July–August at peak. Works year-round with frozen blueberries — the cocktail loses maybe 10% of its quality with frozen vs peak fresh.

More Recipes: Blackberry OF · Strawberry OF · Variations Hub

📚 Sources & Further Reading
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