Canadian Blackberry Cocktail

This is a beautiful drink in the model of the Allegheny and other blackberry and whisky cocktails with lemon. I think what I like most is that it is a simple and, might I say, Canadian presentation. "Put it in an Old Fashioned glass and let me drink it," says the Canuck. And I have to agree, it is an easy drink in a rocks glass with no rocks.

I've made my own blackberry brandy for this cocktail. I debated about which brandy I wanted to use as the base before deciding that the flavor I was going for was apple brandy, specifically Laird's. So I used blackberry jelly--seedless, that's key--and dissolved a tablespoon in about two ounces of apple brandy. Then I fine strained it three times to catch any large chunks.  

This is me pushing the apple brandy through the strainer.

Once the jelly is dissolved you get the sugars you need for the cocktail as well. Most store bought blackberry brandies are pretty sweet anyway and this means you can omit any simple syrup.

• 2 oz. Canadian whisky
• 1/2 oz. blackberry brandy (homemade blackberry brandy used.)
• 1/2 oz. orange juice
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp. bar sugar (omit)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass.