My Bar Bible / Cocktails / Blackthorn

Blackthorn in a coupe, drawn with its ingredient layers

Blackthorn recipe

StirredCoupeNo ice18% ABV

The Blackthorn is a stirred gin cocktail, made with sloe gin, sweet vermouth and orange bitters, served in a coupe. It is spirit-forward.

Strength: about 18% ABV in the glass, roughly 13 g of alcohol and about 160 calories per drink (an estimate; brands, sugar and dilution vary).

The English Blackthorn, from sloe gin. An Irish version swaps in Irish whiskey and dry vermouth.

Blackthorn ingredients

Sloe gin45 ml (1½ oz)
Sweet vermouth30 ml (1 oz)
Orange bitters2 dashes

Measures for one serve. Open the drink in Bar Bible to scale it to a batch or switch to ounces.

How to make a Blackthorn

  1. Add everything to a mixing glass with plenty of ice.
  2. Stir until very cold, about 30 seconds.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Glass
Coupe
Ice
None, served up
Garnish
Lemon twist
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Stirred cocktails

Blackthorn: quick answers

How strong is a Blackthorn?
About 18% alcohol once the ice has melted in, roughly 13 g of alcohol per drink. That is an estimate: brands and dilution vary.
How many calories are in a Blackthorn?
About 160 calories per drink, from the alcohol and the ingredients. An estimate: brands and the amount of sugar change it. Compare every drink in the cocktail calorie chart.
What glass is a Blackthorn served in?
A coupe, with no ice in the glass.
How many ingredients does a Blackthorn have?
3 in total: sloe gin, sweet vermouth and orange bitters. Simple enough to make at home.

Cocktail calorie chart: compare all 1,308 drinks

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