As I was scrolling through Instagram one day, I saw an idea that piqued my interest: jam used as a sweetener for cocktails. Soon, I was seeing and hearing about the idea everywhere. I knew I would have to try one for myself.
I headed over to the new and improved Dallas Farmers Market (the actual market building) to pick up more jams than any one person could need, and went home to experiment.
I learned a few things throughout that process, including the fact that homemade jams are noticeably better than the brand name jams I’ve been buying all these years (sorry, Smuckers). To help smooth your path to jam cocktail perfection, I’ll share a few helpful tips I came up with while mixing.
- Muddle thicker jams before you even get to shaking and straining
When I started shaking a cocktail, the thicker jams would remain in clumps and not distribute evenly. To fix this problem, I muddled the jam to break up some thicker pieces. - Shake jam with liquid before adding ice
I would recommend shaking the jam and liquid together before you even add ice to the shaker. This way, the jam can distribute and impart flavor into the liquid. Once you add ice to the shaker, the jam will seize up. - Strain the cocktails
I personally don’t like gelatinous particles floating in my cocktails, so I strained them before consumption. - Follow your taste buds
Jam in cocktails is best when used as a substitution for simple syrup. If you use a lot, your cocktail will be very sweet. If you like that, go for it!
With all the ground rules set, here are the cocktails I came up with using homemade jams exclusively from the Dallas Farmers Market:
Pineapple Ginger Moscow Mule
What You Need
- 1 1/2 fluid ounces vodka
- 1/2 fluid ounce lime juice
- 1/2 cup ginger beer
- Ice cubes
- 1 Tablespoon Betty’s Blue Ribbon Fare Pineapple-Ginger Jam
Directions
- Pour vodka, lime juice, and jam into a glass.
- Muddle until well combined and strain into another glass.
- Add ice cubes and ginger beer.
- Stir to combine.
Strawberry Vanilla Mojito
What You Need
- 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
- Small handful of mint leaves
- 2 teaspoons Pam’s Best Strawberry Vanilla Jam (available at Market Provisions Co.)
- 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/2 cup club soda
- Ice cubes
Directions
- Place mint leaves and a lime wedge into a glass. Muddle to combine flavors.
- Add the jam and two more lime wedges, muddle again and strain if desired.
- Fill the glass almost to the top with ice.
- Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water, stir.
- Garnish with a mint sprig and a lime wedge.
Lavender Berry Margarita
What You Need
- 2 fluid ounces silver tequila
- 1/2 fluid ounce Grand Marnier
- 1/2 lime, juiced
- 1 Tablespoon Pam’s Best Berries & Lavender Jam (available at Market Provisions Co.)
- Ice cubes
- Sugar
Directions
- In a shaker, combine tequila, Grand Marnier, lime juice, and jam. Let sit.
- Rim the serving glass with jam and sugar.
- Shake and strain the contents of the shaker into the serving glass filled with ice.
Pear & Pomegranate Champagne
What You Need
- 6 fluid ounces dry champagne
- 1 teaspoon Pam’s Best Pear & Pomegranate Jam (available at Market Provisions Co.)
- Pomegranate arils for garnish
Directions
- Fill a glass with jam and champagne. Gently stir until mixed.
- Strain into a champagne flute. Garnish with pomegranate arils.
Bourbon, Peach & Honey Cocktail
What You Need
- 2 fluid ounces bourbon
- 3/4 fluid ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons JJ&B Peaches & Honey Jam (available at Scardello)
- 1 ounce club soda
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Lemon slice for garnish
Directions
- Combine bourbon, lemon juice, and jam in a cocktail shaker; muddle.
- Fill shaker with ice and shake.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice; add club soda and bitters; stir.
- Garnish with a lemon slice and a mint sprig.
Overall, my favorite of the bunch was the Strawberry Vanilla Mojito, with the Bourbon Peach Honey cocktail coming in at a close second. Even my friends who don’t normally drink bourbon enjoyed it with the jam. But the crowd favorite was absolutely the Pineapple Ginger Moscow Mule.
