Recreate the refreshing flavors of Starbucks' new Blackberry Sage Refresher. Made with real blackberry sage syrup, and infused with a little green tea, this drink is perfect for a mid-day pick-me-up. Craving the Blackberry Lemonade Refresher or the Midnight Drink? I've got you covered there too!
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I am not what you would call a "trend hopper" but when I heard that Starbucks was adding a Blackberry Sage Refresher to its menu ahead of Valentine's Day, something made me immediately drive to try one for myself. I left the house for this, so you know it must be an beverage emergency!
I always enjoy Starbucks Refreshers and was excited to try this new one. My impressions were I loved the blackberry flavors, and the balance of subtle notes of Sage, but for me it seemed a little watered down. I tried the lemonade refresher and it was better, but the lemonade took the starring role. The coconut milk infused Midnight drink was good too, but all I could think was "I can do better!" And here we are!
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Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients shown below are mostly to make the blackberry sage simple syrup that is the base for this drink. Let's talk about them:
- Blackberries - Blackberries are kind of the star here so get fresh if you can, but if they're not available frozen will still provide the sweet blackberry flavors. Starbucks makes their drinks with something called "blackberry inclusions" which just means dried blackberries, but I'm still sticking with fresh.
- Sage - Starbucks at a sprinkle of sage. No shade, but I didn't come here first stuffing. Our simple syrup is not going to taste like Thanksgiving. Actually, adding a savory herb to non-savory dishes is quite common. I include fresh herbs in a lot of my mocktails, either muddling with mint in my Virgin Tequila Sunrise, or infusing peach simple syrup with rosemary for my Peach Mocktail. I even add rosemary to my strawberry scones.
- Granulated sugar - An equal volume of granulated sugar and water are all that's needed to make a basic simple syrup. Other than the blackberry sage simple syrup for this recipe, you can make a vanilla syrup, add other fruits, hot peppers, or just herbs on their own.
- Water - I mean, it's water. We use it in the simple syrup and in the blackberry sage refresher, but you can replace the water with something fizzy if you enjoy a nose tickle!
- Green tea - The Starbucks drink includes green coffee extract, which comes from unroasted coffee beans. I figured none of us is going to have an easy time trying to find coffee extract, so I add a couple of tea bags of green tea to the simple syrup. You can leave that out if you want. It doesn't impart much flavor, but it adds just a touch of caffeine to the refresher.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Variations
You can add anything you like to this drink and still be refreshed; pour in some tequila for a blackberry sage margarita, prosecco for a mimosa mocktail vibe, or just a little lemon-lime soda for a fizzy drink. Here are the two Starbucks variations, if you'd like to start there first, and then one more of my own:
- Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher - Replace the water with lemonade, if you haven't used it all in my strawberry lemonade mocktail. Store-bought is fine.
- Blackberry Midnight Refresher - In place of the water, Starbucks gives their refresher a shake with coconut milk. Forgo the can and buy a brand that comes in a carton. They don't need to be shaken and can also be added to a nice Iced Latte.
- Blackberry Sage Spritzer - Finally, replace the water with something bubbly, sparkling cider, or seltzer would be great. Just skip the shaking part of the drink preparation or you will be wearing it rather than drinking it!
Quick Recipe Video
Step-by-Step Instructions
Really the only part of this recipe that you need to see pictures of is the making of the blackberry sage simple syrup. It only takes five minutes of hands on time and the flavor is out of this world!
Step 1: Place 6 ounces of blackberries (a small container), one cup of sugar, one cup of water, and a sprig of sage into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for five minutes.
Step 2: Remove from the heat and add two teabags of green tea, and three or four sage leaves that you have chopped into pieces. Stir in, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Strain the berries, herbs, and teabags through a wire mesh strainer, but do not press the berries or your syrup may become cloudy.
Step 4: Allow to cool completely and then transfer to a jar or container with the lid. Use immediately or store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Although this blackberry refresher is a game changer, you can use your blackberry sage simple syrup in a number of other ways; flavor iced tea or lemonade, brush over freshly baked cakes before frosting, or pour over ice cream.
Making a Blackberry Sage Refresher
It's pretty simple, and you don't have to use a cocktail shaker. You can shake it up in a large mason jar, or use a long cocktail spoon, a clean butter knife, or even a chopstick if you need to. Anything that closes tight or stirs.
Step 3: Add a couple of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Pour in 2 ounces of blackberry sage simple syrup and add a couple of fresh blackberries and one or two sage leaves. Add 8 ounces of water and shake vigorously.
Step 4: Pour over ice in a tall glass.
Step 3: Garnish with a couple more fresh blackberries.
Step 4: Add a sprig of sage for aromatic and beautification purposes. Sip and be refreshed!
Starbucks Midnight Drink
What Turn this into a Midnight Drink by adding coconut milk in place of the water and giving it vigorous shaking or stirring. It will blend everything together well and give you a nice foamy texture. However you prepare your Blackberry Sage Refresher, I know you're going to love it!
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! Rub the rim of your glass with a lemon wedge, or just moisten with water then invert into a dish of granulated sugar. For spicy take, add a Tajin rim as I do in my blood orange mimosa cocktail!
That's an amazing idea. To a 64 ounce pitcher add 12 ounces of blackberry sage simple syrup (1 ½ cups) and 6 cups of water or lemonade. Stir well and pour over ice into glasses. Garnish with more blackberries and sprigs of sage.
Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment with a ⭐️ rating below to tell me all about it, and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
I appreciate you!
-Cynthia
📖 Recipe
Copycat Starbucks Blackberry Sage Refresher
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 ounces blackberries fresh or frozen
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 sprig sage leaves 5 to 6 leaves plus 3 to 4 mor5e leaves for steeping
- 2 tea bags of green tea optional
Instructions
Making Blackberry Sage Simple Syrup
- Place 6 ounces of blackberries (a small container), one cup of sugar, one cup of water, and a sprig of sage into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let simmer for five minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add two teabags of green tea, and three or four sage leaves that you have chopped into pieces. Stir in, cover, and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain the berries, herbs, and teabags through a wire mesh strainer, but do not press the berries or your syrup may become cloudy.
- Allow to cool completely and then transfer to a jar or container with the lid. Use immediately or store for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Making one Blackberry Sage Refresher
- Add a couple of ice cubes to a cocktail shaker.
- Pour in 2 ounces of blackberry sage simple syrup and add a couple of fresh blackberries and one or two sage leaves.
- Add 8 ounces of water and shake vigorously.
- Pour over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with a couple more fresh blackberries. Add a sprig of sage for aromatic and beautification purposes.
- Sip and be refreshed!
Save This Recipe! 💌
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!
Video
Notes
- Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher - Replace the water with lemonade, if you haven't used it all in my strawberry lemonade mocktail. Store-bought is fine.
- Blackberry Midnight Refresher - In place of the water, Starbucks gives their refresher a shake with coconut milk. Forgo the can and buy a brand that comes in a carton. They don't need to be shaken and can also be added to a nice Iced Latte.
- Blackberry Sage Spritzer - Finally, replace the water with something bubbly, sparkling cider, or seltzer would be great. Just skip the shaking part of the drink preparation or you will be wearing it rather than drinking it! * Pitcher preparation - To a 64 ounce pitcher add 12 ounces of blackberry sage simple syrup (1 ½ cups) and 6 cups of water or lemonade. Stir well and pour over ice into glasses. Garnish with more blackberries and sprigs of sage.
Cynthia Christensen says
You are going to absolutely love this Blackberry Sage Refresher!!