For a few weeks each summer, I stand on the side of the West Virginia road and pick wineberries. This year I made some Wineberry Sherbet Martinis and it’s my new favorite summer cocktail.
Wineberry Sherbet Martinis
What the heck is a Wineberry?? I’m so glad you asked. A Wineberry is a cousin to the raspberry. They are similar is color and shape, but a wineberry is juicier and sweeter. The seeds are also smaller and easier to eat.
Just don’t ask me why it’s called a wineberry… I have no clue. I guess you could make a fruit wine with them, however, I don’t think that has anything to do with the name.
Where do Wineberries come from?
They are native to eastern Asia and were introduced to North America and Europe where they became invasive plants. In fact, they are so invasive that they are outlawed from being sold in many states. Their long canes can grow into dense thickets and take my word for it, the thorns are not to be trifled with.
Wineberry plants can be found today in many parts of the east coast of the US and into Canada. I picked mine along the hot roadside.
Infused Vodka
I picked about 2 pounds worth of wineberries in less than an hour. They are delicious for snacking on, but I set side one pound of them in the freezer. Then I put about a cup of fresh wineberries into a mason jar and covered them with 2 cups of vodka.
Leave the jar on the counter or put it into the fridge for a week. The wineberry flavor will infuse with the vodka and turn the vodka a beautiful shade of pink.
Winberry Sherbet
Once your winberries are frozen and your vodka is infused, you can make the sherbet.
Sherbet is one of the easiest forms of “ice cream” you can make. You’ll simply use a food processor to pulverize the frozen fruit and then add in a bit of whole milk until it becomes smooth and creamy. You can serve it soft from the food processor, or freeze it for a four hours until it’s firm.
Super simple!
Make the Martinis
Invite your girlfriends over and make some martinis! Rim some glasses with corn syrup and sugar. Add a scoop of two of the sherbet to the glasses. Pour over the vodka and add a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Sip and Enjoy!
Here’s a few more fruity
- Pineapple Coconut Martini
- Monkeylada Martini
- Pomegranate Martini
- Orange Martini
- Lime Drop Martini
- Grapefruit Cranberry Martini
- Blueberry Martini
Wineberry Sherbet Martinis
Wineberry Sherbet Martinis are a great summer drink to enjoy with your girlfriends. Homemade sherbet and infused vodka make this drink amazing!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds wineberries
- 2 cups Vodka
- 1
- 1/4 - 1/2 cup milk
- Lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Wash the wineberries. Place one pound of fruit on a cookie sheet and freeze for 4 hours, or until frozen. Transfer to a freezer bag and keep frozen.
- Place 1 cup of wineberries into a 2 cup mason jar. Cover with the vodka. Cover and set aside for a week to let the vodka infuse with the wineberries.
- Place the frozen wineberries into a food processor and process until no large bits remain, about 2 minutes. Gradually pour in the milk in the feed tube until it looks like soft serve.
- Scoop and serve now or transfer to a freezer safe container and freeze until firm.
- Rim the martini glass with corn syrup and sugar. Add one or two scoops of sherbet to the glass. Place a few ice cubes into a shaker bottle and pour over a cup of the infused vodka. Pour over the sherbet.
- Serve with some lemon-lime soda and add a few more wineberries for garnish.
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