Picture this: It’s late night and you’re scrolling social media. And then you see them: Jam Jar Cocktails. One after another start popping up on your feed. You think, “with a little booze and a few other additions, that almost empty bottle of jam not only won’t go to waste, but it will also offer up a sweet sipper.” And off you go to test out this new drink.
“This trend has caught on because it makes making a cocktail very approachable — no fancy equipment, ingredients, or technique is required. You don’t even need fancy glassware! Plus, it’s a great way to utilize the jam sitting in your fridge,” says Adhel Martinez, Las Californias Gin’s West Coast Brand Ambassador.
However, it’s not as basic as it looks. With a little imagination and some inventive flavor combinations, a jam jar cocktail can up the ante on basic at-home cocktailing with almost no effort at all. Alex Maynard, Fords Gin Brand Advocacy Manager, notes that this goes beyond basic blueberry or raspberry jam and extents into an entirely new and playful world. Some of Maynard’s preferred combinations are:
- Tomato jam + pineapple juice + lime
- Strawberry balsamic jam + basil paste + lemon
- Pumpkin jam + mint + lime
- Spicy peach jam + Jasmine tea + lemon
- Carrot jam + ginger tea + lemon
- Pear + rosemary tea + lime
Martinez echoes this sentiment. “The possibilities are endless for jam jar cocktails.” Suggestions for making a killer cocktail include picking a bold gin to avoid getting lost in a jam as well as ensuring the cocktail is balanced by adding a bit of sour to the mix.
“Lemon or lime juice is excellent for a jam jar cocktail as they are very tart, and you can eye equal parts of juice and jam,” Martinez says.
Another tip for making an excellent jam jar cocktail? According to Vance Henderson, Hendrick’s Gin National Ambassador, simple syrup is the key, even if it seems counterintuitive.
“When using jam or building jam jar drinks, I like to add a tiny bit of simple syrup to the cocktails, typically somewhere between ¼ and ½ parts depending on how much jam is in the jar. It adds a viscosity and rounded mouthfeel to the cocktail that can sometimes be missed when depending on the jam alone,” he says.
But, it’s not only about the ingredients when it comes to making a delicious jam jar cocktail — technique also matters. Henderson explains that starting with a dry shake to pre-infuse the jam with the spirit can make a big difference in final flavor. He also notes that adding ice last or using a large cube or sphere is also a best practice so the cocktail dilutes at a slower pace.
Another top tip? Make sure you really give your jam jar cocktails a shake to ensure the tastiest result.
“The goal is to completely dissolve the jam and integrate it with citrus juice while simultaneously adding water dilution by breaking down the ice,” Martinez says.
It may seem as though gin is the spirit of choice when creating a jam-based cocktail, but that’s not the case. While gin can be a great way to enhance the jam (and vice versa!), brown spirits certainly have a spot in this trend as well, says Anna Mains, Monkey Shoulder Ambassador.
“The first signature Monkey Shoulder cocktail that is still popular today is a whisky jam sour,” explains Mains. Monkey Shoulder, jam, simple syrup and a bit of lemon juice with a dash of orange bitters rounds out the sipper.
While home drinkers are definitely having a bit of fun with this new social media idea, the viral moment it’s having may spur a bigger trend, says Maynard. In fact, it’s one that may make it’s way from the home bar to the actual bar, a reversal of the usual
“Without question, there are already some awesome bars around the country playing around with this concept but I can definitely see it growing within the bar world. This trend speaks to where we are in the bar world and in society as a whole — it’s creative, efficient, sustainable and is something we enjoy in the comfortable confines of our homes. Is the jam jar the new copper mug?”
Want a fun jam jar recipe? These are courtesy of Hendrick’s Gin.
Jam-Jar Breakfast Martini
Ingredients:
- 1½ parts HENDRICK’S GIN
- ½ part Simple Syrup
- ¾ part Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon of Orange Marmalade
- Orange Twist to Garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients in a jam jar. Add ice, close tightly, and shake very well.
Raspberry Smash
Ingredients:
- 1½ parts HENDRICK’S FLORA ADORA
- ½ part Simple Syrup
- ¾ part Lime Juice
- 1 teaspoon of Raspberry Jam
- Cucumber Wheel to Garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients in a jam jar. Add ice, close tightly, and shake very well.
Cucumber-Ginger Crush
Ingredients:
- 2 parts HENDRICK’S GIN
- ½ part Simple Syrup
- 1 part Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon of Ginger Marmalade
- Thumbs-Length Chopped Cucumber
- Top with Club Soda
- Cucumber Wheel to Garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients in a jam jar. Add ice, close tightly, and shake very well. Top with club soda.
Basil, Sweet Chili Smash
Ingredients:
- 2 parts HENDRICK’S ORBIUM
- ½ part Simple Syrup
- 1 part Lemon Juice
- 1 teaspoon of Sweet Chili Jam
- 4 Basil Leaves
- Cucumber Wheel to Garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients in a jam jar. Add ice, close tightly, and shake very well.
