Summer is certainly in full swing here in Nashville. Blazing hot, bipolar weather that provides the perfect opportunity to have a drink. Beautiful out? Have a drink. Almost snowing the next day? Cozy up with a drink.
Lemon essence, fresh herb, mint back notes. I’m not describing wine here, but instead my new favorite garden green. Lemon balm. This stuff tastes like everything Southern to me. Almost like sweet tea on a branch. Seems only right to christen summer with a cocktail.
Blackberry Jammin’ Gin Lemon Balm Cocktail — Gin, gin, gin sweetened with some Nashville fuel itself. The one and only world-famous Loveless Cafe fruit jam. A bit of the minty fresh lemon balm, and you’ve got yourself a drink so good that the rainy summer days won’t even matter anymore.
Oh… and we are giving away a huge Loveless Cafe gift pack so you can have a little bit of Nashville right there in your own house. — Keep reading to enter!
I can’t help but see a tiny palm tree in these pictures. Maybe that’s why I enjoy this so much. Maybe it’s just because it tastes SO damn good.
As you maaaay imagine, my sweet tooth makes its way into cocktail just like it does into desserts. The perfect thing about a cocktail is that you can customize everything for the person enjoying it. Want some suga? Come to me. For more jam, I mean. (See what I did there?)
Using jam to sweeten drinks is a great way to add flavor alongside the sweetness. More flavor is always a good thing. It also helps that you will probably already have this option sitting in your fridge. No worries about having used up all of that syrup for last nights frozen peach basil daiquiris.
Speaking of jam– If you’re ever in Nashville (which you all should be), ask any local where you should eat, and you’ll most certainly be told to visit the legendary Loveless Cafe. What they reeaaaally mean is to immediately go eat as many biscuits covered with homemade preserves as you possibly can. (Chubby bunny, anyone?) If you aren’t lucky enough to visit us or live in the best city on earth, you can jump over to their website and order any of their homemade goodness. Bacon and jam and biscuits and country ham and biscuits and biscuits. *faints*
Biscuits and gin (I mean…)– Biscuits and jam (cocktails). If that isn’t summer in the south, I don’t know what is.
Enjoy, y’all!
- 1 tablespoon blackberry jam/preserves
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 5-6 lemon balm leaves
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 2 ounces gin (alternatively, coconut rum is excellent)
- club soda, to top
- Muddle jam, sugar, lemon balm in cocktail shaker until leaves are well-bruised and sugar incorporated well.
- Add gin, honey and ice to shaker.
- Shake well.
- Pour into glass and top with club soda.
- Garnish with lemon balm leaves.
- Enjoy! -- Visit SouthernFATTY.com for more recipes.
Now. What you’ve been waiting for…
Enter here for a chance to win a Loveless Cafe gift basket packed full of Nashville favorites.
Sweepstakes ends June 26th, 2015 at 11:59 PM CST. Blog comment required for entry.
Twitter follow adds 2 bonus entries. Enter using entry process below.
Mary Catherine Alexander
Found this recipe on a search for Blackberry cocktails because I had just traveled to Nashville on vacation and purchased some Blackberry Farm Jam from the great little shop White’s Mercantile. The jam is so decadent and I was looking for something to make with it. It’s hot and I was ready to have an end of summer cocktail with what was in the pantry/fridge. As I read through the ingredients my husband and I kept saying “got that” so without a run to the grocery we filled up the shaker and made a marvelous drink to make me put my feet up on the porch and relax a spell.
Thanks Philip!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Thanks for sharing this! I love to hear about how these recipes fit right into someones day (especially one on a porch with gin). So glad you enjoyed!
-Phillip
Have a photo to share? Tag us on social using @southernfatty / #southernfatty!
slehan
I usually just have it on toast, but I want to try your drink recipe.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
Sand
I make thumbprint cookies with jam. It’s my favorite.
Bryan E.
Thank You for the giveaway… I love blackberry jam on buttered whole wheat toast !
Trisha McKee
I love it on english muffins!
amy deeter
My favorite way to use jam is on my toast in the morning for breakfast
Beverly
I love jam on my English muffins. Thanks for having this nice contest!
Sue J
Besides toast, I put it on pancakes!
Kathryn C
I love raspberry jam on plain pancakes or to use in making lintzer tart cookies
KC
[email protected]
Charlene Kuser
I love my jam spread on scones.It is so tasty.
Penny Snyder
I love to use it on my homemade buttermilk biscuits!!!
linda w.
I love it on english muffins.
Susan Smith
I love jam on my biscuits.
Mary Songer
I like to use jam in baking. I mix it in frosting to get different flavors and mix it into the cake mix for more flavor. Not to mention flavoring cookies.
BrittanyH
English muffins!
Nicole C.
My favorite way to eat it is on biscuits.
lshumack
I love to eat it on english muffins!
1vafamily
I love to eat it on toast.
clynsg
I like it on pancakes.
ashley ramsey
I love putting it on FRESH warm biscuits.
Diana Gervits Gottlieb
I love to mix it into yogurt for a sweet treat
Kate Newton
I love jam on pancakes! I use Earth Balance and blackberry jam! Its so delicious!
Stephanie E
Jam on biscuits or English muffins!
Lesley F
I like to put it on a bagel
carrie conrad
On fresh homemade bread. Yummy!!!
Shea Naylor Balentine
Love it on a sausage and biscuit!
Laurie Murley
I love jam on hot biscuits
Laurie Emerson
I love jam on my homemade cornbread.
Ellie W
I love jam with hot buttered homemade biscuits.
BreanneT
I like it on toast.
Stephanie Larison
My fave is jam on toast.
Lisa Voyce
I like to put on toast or a muffin with butter.
Rebecca Peters
I love it on toast
lana simanovicki
I like jam in my tea
Cori Westphal
I make my own pop tarts using jam! The kids love em!
Lindsay Hess
I love to put jam on bagels, and it tastes great!!
jules mcnubbin
on freshly baked buttermilk biscuits
Megan C.
I love jam on a toasted English muffin.
Claire
I like ’em in the middle of thumbprint cookies.
Laurie Nykaza
I love jam on homemade biscuits always great with butter too.
tinareynolds
I love on homemade biscuits
Nicole Carter
I love jam on water buttered toast!
Nicole Carter
I meant on Warm, not water lol
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Had me worried for a moment 😉
Laura Layne
I love to put jam on gluten free english muffins!
Betania Kinnell
MMMMM JAM. I will eat it however I get it in mah mouth. But warm, homemade biscuits… yum.
kelsey harper
I love to put jam on my biscuits (: soooo good
Froot Loops
I MIX IT WITH SOFT BUTTER ON MY PLATE AND SMEAR IT ON HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK BISCUITS.
LuckyCat7
I love jam on English muffins.
Eva
I love jam on my toast.
Sarah
I like to use jam in peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Jennifer R
I love jam with homemade biscuits and butter.
Erica Carnes
I like to put it on an english muffin.
Danielle
I love jam on my banana bread
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great suggestion, Danielle! — Congrats on being selected as the winner of the Loveless Cafe gift basket. I will be in touch via e-mail with details.
-Phillip
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great suggestion! — Congrats for being selected as the winner of the Lovess Cafe gift basket giveaway on Southern FATTY. Check your email (and maybe spam folder) for details on your prize. Thanks for following!
-Phillip
Bridgett Wilbur
I just love jam on waffles..so yummy.
Paula Michele
I love blackberry jam on fresh, homemade biscuits. I don’t use any butter, just the jam!
Danielle Marie
i like jam on an english muffin. i am boring.
xdanimarie(at)yahoo(dot)com
Danielle G.
My family loves to eat jam and butter on waffles. Sooo yummy!
kelly A
I love jam….these sound absolutely amazing!!! YUMMY!!
Connie campbell
Yum…jam..
Biscuits and toast is my favorite but also good on ice cream!
Christina Sparks
I put jam on top of baked chicken, it is really good.
Karen Drake
My favorite way to eat jam is on warm buttered toast.
Kim Hilbert
My favorite way to use jam is on toast or on cookies.
K Johnson
I like to use jam on toast in the morning.
debbie_suburbsanity
I have a recipe for a cream cheese danish that has a jam layer. Yum!!
Susan Chester
I love it on hot buttered biscuits!
Kelley Chapman
I mix jam in with unflavored plain yogurt.
Andrea Bullock
I love jam and I put it on a toasted english muffin that has cream cheese on it first and then the jam over that. it’s delicious!
Holly B
Love it on my toast in the morning!
Ali Celestino
I eat jam on my toast
Selinda
I love jam on some warm biscuits!
Baconbitz
On Toast!
Katy S
I like jam on my bagel
rtrexel64
I love to have on toast
deana
My favorite way to use jam is on my buttered toast.
Natalie Carlson Brown
My favorite way to eat jam is on toast, bagels, or blueberry muffins. So yummy!!
Stacy
I am kind of boring, I only use blackberry jam on bagels and english muffins
buzzd
On an english muffin
Monique Rizzo
I love it on a bagel with cream cheese.
Wendi Watson
blackberry jam is best on a bagel with cream cheese!! yummy
jean Lafever
I like blackbeery jam on bread and biscuits yummy
Breanna Danielle Pollard
I love it on a toasted bagel.
ELIZABETH C.
I use jam on toast with cream cheese. Yum!
Eg Kaufman
I like jam on bagels.
Nicole W.
I love it plain and simple, on toast!
jill190
I would make jam thumb print cookies. . Yummy~
Sharyl Wolter
I like jam on fresh biscuits.
julie matek
I love jam on toast;)
Jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
william gossage
I like putting jam on my pancakes
Maria do Carmo Sarmento
I love jam to cover a pie’s base crust and then filling it with fresh fruit…yummy!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great suggestion. Keep that crust flaky!
Kelly
I love it stuffed between two layers of Victoria Sponge Cake….Yum!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great choice!
Hillary B
I use apricot jam in my meatloaf. Very delicious.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Never heard of that! Sounds like it would be pretty good.
Debby
My kids would say toast, but I love this ideas of putting it in a drink!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Hear, hear!
Annamarie Voss
The best way to use jam is on good old fashioned toast, preferably on homemade bread.
Amy Cooley
I love jam on my English muffin in the morning and I like to use jam for a muffin filling.
Mike Mayer
I love jam on toast with butter.
MichaelPerkins
Stuffed into the center of a donut… mmmmmmmmm donut……
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Donuts are ALWAYS the right choice.
Beth
My favorite way to use Jam is on a warm toasted English Muffin.
debbiewelchert
My favorite way to use jam is on waffles. They are so yummy that way.
Angel
My favorite way to use jam is on baking powder biscuits. Holy COW that cocktail sounds good though!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Thanks!
Margot S.
I love it on toast or pancakes!
Robin Wilson
I love to use jam on pancakes! Next up are homemade biscuits!
Linda G.
I like to put jam on my toast and muffins.
Tonya Marie D
I love it on toast, bagels, waffles and chips.
Eguiver Yol
Like to put jam on bread with peanut butter
kelly
I enjoy jam on a toasted bagel.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Love, love, love bagels!
Erica Beaver
I loved it on toast until i saw your amazing drink reciepe.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Hah! Hope you like it 🙂
Jen S.
I love to lay out crescent rolls, put a blob of cream cheese and some jam, roll them up and bake according to the crescent roll instructions.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Cream cheese! Great choice. I love mixing that with my Sweet Red Pepper Relish.
Nancy Marcho
I like jam and butter on any kind of bread. I also like to mix it into sauces for meat.
Kelly Nicholson
Comment in the blog post and let us know what your favorite way to use jam is!
i like mine at breakfast either plain or on toast..thanks
Darlene Carbajal
I love to put jam on my toast, along with butter!
Daniel Thornton
I like to put jam on toast
Teressa Pence Morris
My favorite way to use jam is on a toasted English muffin.
Frank
I like jam on toast.
Karen Mayernick
I just love jam on toast! The whole family does! Yum!
sarah s
Some of my favorite ways to eat jam is on bread with butter and peanut butter & jam sandwiches.
Rob
I mostly like to spread it on oatmeal. Never thought of stirring it into a drink!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Works great! Give it a go and let us know how ya like it. 🙂
Dale Mackey
As a cake mix in!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Cake is always a good choice.
Brandon Wells
my favorite way to use jam is in my mouth…off a butter knife straight outta the jar!
Sara
i love to use it on English Muffins with a great cup of coffee
kyl neusch
jam on toast.
vikkiparman
I really like peanut butter and jam sandwiches.
Kristen
I love jam on warm homemade biscuits.
Holly Kennedy
I like jam and peanut butter on white bread.
Stacey Grantham
My favorite is simple with butter on biscuits..I have also enjoyed it in dessert bars.
Tina W
I love jam on a fresh baked biscuit, and apricot jam in a chicken dish.
Jen Zimdars Winiger
I use jam on toast or english muffins. I haven’t branched out into oatmeal or anything like that yet. It’s on my list of things to do!
BeingTheWriter
I make great oatmeal muffins that jam tastes amazing with!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Oatmeal is my faaaavvvorite in everything!
adknykate
I cannot eat toasted english muffins without concord grape jam.
Kathy Rose
I like jam with peanut butter on toast
Michelle Igou Klingen
I love having jam on english muffins
Lisa Walker
I love having wheat toast with jam for breakfast.
Allyson Bossie
I love using jam in a savory/sweet marinade/glaze for meat
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’m working on a cherry glaze right now for an upcoming recipe. Great way to use fruit preserves!
Sharon Kaminski
My favorite way to use jam is on pancakes instead of syrup.
Robert Tschinkel
I love to use jam on southern biscuits, butter and raspberry jam!
Racquelle
I love jam on toast.
yourpilgrim123
My favorite way to use jam is on steaming hot pancakes… yummmmm
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Good choice!
Norde x Sur
No blackberries down here. I’m in! ☺️
Kimberly DePalma
I love jam on biscuits!
Jeanna
Jam on toast is my favorite!
M.Clark
The Blackberry Jammin’ Gin Cocktail looks delicious, I’d love to try it without the alcohol. It would never have occurred to me to use jam or preserves in a drink. Thank you for sharing this recipe. My favorite way to use jam is with butter on bread.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’m sure it would taste great with a bit of clear soda or fruit juice instead. Enjoy!
dari
My fav way is on toast, but I’m looking for a new way
susitravl
I like to use melted jam drizzled on my fruit pizza.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Oh, nice! Much easier than making a separate reduction.
rowellreviews
On toast is my favorite way to enjoy jam! [email protected]
puppylov3808
I love PB&J sandwiches, also love it in toast and waffles. Thanks for giving me a minute
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Classic! And you are very welcome. I’ll even let you stay for two 😉
Sue Hull
I love it in a sandwich, bisquit and pancakes. Thank you for the chance 🙂
sue-hull64(at)comcast(dot)net
Joe Jo
I love to use jam on my homemade muffins and on icecream .
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Ice cream is great for preserves. Something people forget sometimes!
Danielle
Nothing fancy for me – my favorite way to eat jam is on a warm biscuit!
Laura Willis Schag
I love all kinds of jams But my favorite is Peach.
golden storm
i like to make little tarts with jam and of course i like it on toast with real butter!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Good butter is key!
Rust
My favorite way to use jam is on toasted homemade bread.
latanya t
I like them on butter homemade biscuits
shelleybams
Jam on a savory dish.. like crescent rolls with sausage and cream cheese topped with blueberry jam!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Yessss! Cream cheese and jam is so good. Love my Sweet Red Pepper Relish with cream cheese.
Jeffrey
My favorite way to use jam is as a spread on fresh bread.
doug g.
I like to butter my bread and then slather it with jam
Bonnie Owen Day
on English muffins yummm
ClickClick
I always have jam on biscuits. It spreads easier than preserves.
Sui Generis
Mine’s strawberry and blueberry jams. Use them on toast.
email: [email protected]
Heather
I’m pretty traditional and usually eat my jam on biscuits. I have used them in cookies before though. There’s no bad way to eat jam!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Nothing wrong with that! Classic is classic for a reason.
shelton
Pear is also very good.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’ve never done a pear jam!
Rachel Mauffray
I love jam on homemade “Cathead” biscuits.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great choice! The biggest, fluffiest biscuits of all 🙂
willowberry
My favorite way to use jam is on biscuits and toast. I love homemade blackberry jam especially. – Alisha H.
Wen Budro
My favorite way to use jam is on bread or biscuits. I never thought of adding it to cocktails.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
It’s great in cocktails! Deeper flavor than sugar and extracts.
Kathy Hoffer
I love blackberry or raspberry jam on warm homemade bread with butter. Nothing beats that!
Carolyn Cheek- Massey
Love strawberry or blackberry on buscuits. Use to live around Nashville and went to Loveless as often as we could. Great homemade food.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Come back soon! 🙂
Debra Guillen
Cherry is my favorite
Amanda Rauch
I love blackberry and blueberry jam!! So yummy!
LindaKish
Strawberry is my favorite.
Sonya Bryer Sanderson
Wild Maine blueberry is my favorite, but blackberry sounds great too.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’ve certainly had blueberry, but Wild Maine makes it sound so much better!
shelton
My favorite jam flavor would be green pepper.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Nice! I made a Sweet Red Pepper Relish jam a while back that was great. I’ll have to try a green one sometime.
sandra
probably strawberry
kristi
when i was young me and my mom used to pick strawberries and make jam and it was the best jam ever !
Marilyn Nawara
My favorite flavor jam is strawberry
Holly Thomas
Raspberry jam is my favorite.
Irina Stiles
I like sour cherry.
laroyal06
I love strawberry!
MelodyJ
Strawberry.
Rom Kruse
cherry jam is my favorite
jea smith
Strawberry
RondaR
My favorite jam is raspberry.
Karrie Millheim
I love strawberry jam
Tracy Davis
My fave is raspberry jam
My Flower
blackberry but so expencive
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Easy to make yourself if you can get fresh berries!
My Flower
ya i cant can dont know how and cant be in kitchen 🙁 do to seizures
Margaret McRae Davis
Strawberry jam!
Auntiepatch
Blackberry jam is my favorite!
Kris Meyer - Big Rigs 'n Lil'
Honeysuckle jelly!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’ve never had that! (yet.)
Lisa
I love fig jam.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
People need to use fig more often!
mullin77
I like strawberry jam on homemade biscuits
Cathy Truman
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Perfect, classic combo!
dglitter
I like strawberry jam on English muffins!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Great pick!
karen
It’s a hard decision but I love apricot jam, yummy
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Apricot is one of my favs for everything pastry-related. So good!
mckim
I like strawberry jam.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Classic. Always a winner!
manda
My grandma’s plum jelly.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Sounds delicious!
Charlene Shaw
Blackberry jam, on a warm, soft biscuit is the best. Reminds me of the years picking blackberries with my mom.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Amen!
Caitlyn
I’ve been digging plum jam lately. It’s good on toast.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I’ve nevvver made plum jam. Have to try that soon!
Abby
I Love strawberry or raspberry jam!!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Yumm!
Amy
I love raspberry jam on just about anything.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Fair play.
Yoli
LOVE me some Loveless Cafe. The author is right, it’s a must see. And the fried chicken is to die for too! But those biscuits are little fluffy pillows of heaven!!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
It’s all good!
Annette
I love any kind of jam, but use raspberry most often to make thumbprint cookies.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Always a great way to use it! I had some amazing apricot thumbprints recently.
Annette
Oh that sounds good. I really do need to experiment with other flavors.
Brittney House
I like strawberry jam on a bagel.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Ohhhh nice! I’ve actually not done much jam on bagels, which is insane because I’m a bagel addict.
Kelsey M
Oh my damn; this is my jam.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I seeeeee what you did there.
Bridget Olson
What a great idea! Never thought to use jam in a cocktail….brilliant. 😉 Fantastic photos.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Works really well!
abfantom
Red Raspberry jam is my favorite. I like it on toast.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Good choice!
Sherril McGann
I love raspberry or blackberry jam on hot biscuits.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Biscuits are always a good idea 🙂
Pith Zester
Used to pick blackberries every summer with my mother down on the TenneBama line. New York’s berries don’t compare. And I just tried a new gin, Nolets, that would be perfect with this cocktail.
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
We do have some great fruit down here! I’m a huge gin fan. I’ll have to give that a try.
Joe J Spatafora
no question a friends Key Lime marmalade…..MMMMM…. fingers crossed
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Ohhh my. That sounds so good!
alex robertson
This cocktail is so pretty! It sounds so good, I love a good blueberry jam, but I am into savory jellies too. I used to make a spicy red pepper jelly and serve it with cream cheese and crackers as an appetizer. SO addicting!
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
YES! Savory options are great. I actually did one that sounds just like that HERE based off of some that I had at a favorite summer dinner spot. Delicious!
grace
i love nashville and i love jam. i’m working on consuming a jar of cinnamon peach right now, so until it’s gone, that’s my favorite flavor! 🙂
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
Ohhhhhh, nice! I have a -ton- of peaches at home right now that I plan on making some jam out of. I’ll have to try that.
Roberta
Gotta try this soon. Love jam cakes,
Phillip @ SouthernFATTY.com
I haven’t made a jam cake in ages! Hope you enjoy it 🙂