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The Purple Haze drink is a beautiful one. Not only because of the delicious berry flavors, but because of how simple of a drink it is. We combine blackberry and cranberry flavors together to make a drink that is, unsurprisingly, purple. So, if you want a great fruit drink that is both fun and has a descriptive name, give this Purple Haze drink a try.

 

Purple Haze Drink Recipe on a white table with cranberries around the glass.

Purple Haze Drink Summary

This is a simple drink that is filled with fruit flavor. We make a tasty purple concoction and pour it into a glass of crushed ice. It has flavors of blackberry and cranberries. Vodka is the main spirit of this drink, but it really should be somewhat masked behind the fruit flavors, which are the superstars of this drink.

The Color Purple

The color is the defining characteristic of the Purple Haze drink. There are 100s of different recipes for Purple Hazes and they are all different, but they all try to reach for purple in a drinking glass. I think I covered that part in my recipe, but more importantly, it tastes great.

Blackberries in the Purple Haze Drink

Part of the reason we name this drink the Purple Haze is the color, but a good drink really comes down to flavor. For that, I turned to Echte Kriatzbeer, a popular German blackberry liqueur that has been around for over 100 years and prides itself in its wild forest blackberry flavor. I did look a bit into the founding of this company, but I could not find a whole bunch in English. German Wikipedia did have a bit about them and you can read some interesting details about Echte Kriatzbeer if you use your browser translation tool.

Either this or some other blackberry liqueur should be available at your local spirit shop. If you cannot find blackberry, first I suggest you check out another liquor store that has a better selection! If, however, you still can’t find it, it should be a bit easier to find a raspberry liquor and a brand like Chambord would work great for a drink like this.

What Kind of Vodka to Use?

Use what you have! If you like Grey Goose or Absolute, use them! Ever since I did a deep dive into the Moscow Mule, I have been convinced that Smirnoff is as good of a brand as any. If the goal of vodka is to provide no flavor and be smooth, Smirnoff is a great vodka.

Not all vodka is equal and I respect whatever choice people use. I do know, however, that Smirnoff is a simple and easy vodka that tics the boxes for what vodka should be. I am sure there are going to be some vodka folks that disagree, but this is not a subtle drink. We are bashing the vodka with some strong and sweet fruit flavors that will cover many of the nuances a vodka connoisseur might be looking for in a straight sipper.  Also, we all know those basement shelf brands that just seem to tell us that they are going to cause a splitting headache in the morning, right? Smirnoff is a great brand, with a neutral flavor, and priced accordingly.

What Kind of Cranberry Juice to Use?

For most drinks, I tend to suggest using the actual fresh fruit, but cranberries are a bit different. Yes, you can make your own cranberry juice, but it is not the most simple of processes. In this case, I suggest getting down to your store and just buying a cranberry juice that looks to be 100% juice. Check out the ingredients list and just try and buy some good stuff.

Crushed Ice

You can really use any ice for this drink, but I have found that crushed ice really helps bring this drink to maximum pleasure. While you might have a fancy-dancy refrigerator or machine that crushes ice, I use a Lewis Bag [Affiliate Link] to crush mine. A Lewis Bag is a tough bag meant for holding ice and taking a mallet to it. Not only is it a fun way to make crushed ice, but it is also a temporary stress reliever.

Music, Purple Haze, and the Purple Haze Drink

I don’t think I would be true to myself without mentioning some music that this drink brings to my mind, much like our Black Dog cocktail. First, Jimi Hendrix. Who can look at the name of this drink and not think of the classic Jimi Hendrix song? This has been a favorite of mine ever since I really first started discovering musing as a teen. If you haven’t heard it before or you want to see some ‘60s musical genius, check out this live video of Jimi working his magic.

Also, whenever I think about Purple and music, I can’t help but think about Prince. Living in an area that is heavily influenced by the Minneapolis area, we all like to claim Prince as one of our own. Here, you can find the ‘80s classic, Purple Rain

Purple Haze Drink Tips Summary

  • Use 100% cranberry juice.
  • Smirnoff Vodka is great for cocktails like this
  • Use a Lewis Bag to make crushed ice [Affiliate Link]
  • If you can’t find, or don’t have, Echte Kriatzbeer Blackberry liqueur, you can use other blackberry liqueurs or raspberry would work, as well
  • Optionally, you can top with soda water for a lighter cocktail.
  • Optionally, garnish with blackberries, mint, or both.

A glass of Purple Haze drink on a gold platter with cranberries all around.

Products I Used in This Recipe

Did You Try The Purple Haze Drink?

Let me know how it went! If you leave a comment and rating, it would be greatly appreciated. If you liked it, I would sure appreciate you telling your social circle about the Purple Haze. Share it on Pinterest, Facebook, or even just email it to a friend. I can continue making cocktails and recipes with your support and doing those small things make a huge difference to me. Of course, I would love for you to be on our email list and there is a link to do so on this page.

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Purple Haze Cocktail on a white table with cranberries around the glas.

Purple Haze Drink Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
  • Author: Ben Myhre
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cocktail 1x
  • Category: Cocktail
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

A Purple Haze drink that can bring you to a place of sweet and tasty dreams. Its purple color is as interesting as the blackberry flavor it contains. Give this delicious drink a try.


Ingredients

Scale
  • Crushed Ice
  • 2 Ounces vodka
  • 1 Ounce Blackberry Liqeuer
  • 2 Ounces Cranberry Juice
  • Soda Water (Optional)
  • Blackberries and Mint, for garnish (Optional)

Instructions

  1. Fill a Highball Glass with crushed ice.
  2. Add all other ingredients to a shaker and either mix or give a quick shake to combine well.
  3. Pour into highball glass and serve.
  4. Optionally, you could garnish with mint or top off with soda water.

Notes

  • Use 100% cranberry juice.
  • Smirnoff Vodka is great for cocktails like this
  • Use a Lewis Bag to make crushed ice [Affiliate Link]
  • If you can’t find, or don’t have, Echte Kriatzbeer Blackberry liqueur, you can use other blackberry liqueurs or raspberry would work, as well
  • Optionally, you can top with soda water for a lighter cocktail.
  • Optionally, garnish with blackberries, mint, or both.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
  • Calories: 257
  • Sugar: 18 g
  • Sodium: 1 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 50 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

 

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