Blackberry Sparklers & Bernardin GIVEAWAY

Disclosure: Bernardin provided me with product for review and for giveaway at no cost to myself.

 

There's that moment of cold sweats when a company you love comes out with something new. I've got to have it. Excitement quickly mixes with trepidation. Please don't change too much. You're committed to this brand, you follow them on social media, and you don't want what you love best about them to get watered down into something... less. Please don't sell out to the trends. In the case of Berdardin's new mason jar drink accessories, however, we're talking about a literal watering down, with fresh fruit, fun straws, sippy lids and an adorable infuser. Phew. This is good change.

 

I mean, it just makes sense for Bernardin to come out with these things. We're all drinking out of our mason jars anyway. At home, in bars, restaurants, we're seeing a renewed love affair with this classic jar as a drinking glass. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's nostalgia. Maybe it's a fondness for simplicity. Or maybe it's just appreciating mason jars for what they are: sturdy and useful.

 

Bernardin recently sent me a package of drinks accessories, and since it's the perfect time of year for blackberries around here I created this very simple recipe for blackberry sparklers to enjoy in my new mugs. Get the recipe below. If you simply want to enjoy fresh fruit in your drinking water, the infuser is a fun way to do that. You can fill it with fresh ingredients like blackberries, raspberries and strawberries then immerse it into a water-filled wide mouth mason jar with the nifty green lid.

 

Now, here's your chance to WIN your very own set of Bernardin mason jar accessories! Leave a comment on this blog post, including your email address, to be entered to WIN:

 

4 Mason Jar Mugs

1 set of Sip & Straw Lids

1 Mason Jar Infuser

 

The draw will be made on Monday, August 11th, 2014 at 6 p.m. Pacific/9 p.m. Eastern. Good luck, everyone!

 

Blackberry Sparklers
Makes 6-8 mason jar drinks

1 cup (250 mL) fresh blackberries
1 cup (250 mL) water
1/4 cup (60 mL) granulated sugar
ice cubes (optional)
lemon slices (optional)
sparkling water for mixing

In a small saucepan, combine the blackberries, water and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking at a low boil for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and pour through a fine mesh sieve into a heat-proof container, discarding the pulp. To mix, add a few ice cubes and a slice or two of lemon to each glass. Pour 1/4 cup (60 mL) of the blackberry syrup over the ice and top up with about 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) of sparkling water per glass. Store leftover syrup in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Want your own mason jar beverage accessories? Leave a comment to WIN the Bernardin giveaway! Don't forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!