Home
2 min read

Mark Woolcott Photography, Patricia Bainter, The Patrician PaletteAs a former pastry chef, I always have liqueurs on hand. When people see my shelves of bottles I assure them that “they are for baking purposes.”  Some people smirk a little with skepticism. The truth is I do not drink much, and these luscious liquids are reserved for flavoring chocolate truffles or sweet sauces and other luxurious edibles.

Some of my staple liqueurs are: Grand Marnier (orange), Chambord (black raspberry), Kirsch (cherry) and Frangelico (hazelnut). The fruits and nuts for these grand dame liqueurs are grown in romantic locations such as the Caribbean, France, and Italy.

Blackberry season was at its peak last month and I was in the mood to bake some pies and make some ice cream with my favorite fruit. So, I went to the liquor store of course. While looking for my staples, I discovered Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur by the LEOPOLD BROS.

Leopold Bros is a distillery located here in Denver. Denver is constantly surprising me. We have micro breweries, vodka distilleries, vintners and now I discover Leopolds! They also have a peach and cherry liqueur, too. Of course I bought all three.

I hurried home to test them out. I dusted off my crystal aperitif glasses and drank all three of them straight up. They are sweet and thick, but they also taste like pure fruit. The flavors were so deep and shockingly true that I envisioned a vat of fruit squeezed into each sip.

Mix it up! Support Denver. Use these liqueurs to drink straight, mixed with Champagne, in coffee, or to spice up desserts.

By the way, I did create THE best ever blackberry and chocolate cookie ice cream. (RECIPE HERE). Below are a few recipes that came with the blackberry bottle.

 

Mark Woolcott Photography, Patricia Bainter, The Patrician PaletteBerries and Cream

Recipe from Leopold Bros
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: Cocktail shaker, martini glasses, and lots of ice

INGREDIENTS
2 ½ ounces Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur
1 ½ ounce cream

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Blackberry Mojito

Recipe from Leopold Bros
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: Cocktail shaker, Collins glass, and lots of ice

INGREDIENTS
1 ounce Rocky Mountain Blackberry Liqueur
1 ½ ounce white rum
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
4 sprigs of mint

Combine spirits, lime juice, and three mint sprigs in a shaker with ice. Shake and double strain into an ice-filled Collins glass. Garnish with a mint sprig.