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A deep red Spiced Hibiscus Bourbon Smash served over crushed ice, garnished with blackberries, basil leaves, and a star anise pod against a black background.

Spiced Hibiscus Bourbon Smash

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Bourbon, spiced hibiscus syrup, muddled blackberries, and lemon. Deep ruby, tart, and warmly spiced.

This cocktail is part of our Date Nite collection, made to be sipped while you cook together.​

COCKTAIL RECIPE

Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz bourbon
3/4 oz spiced hibiscus syrup
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
2 to 3 blackberries, fresh or frozen
Basil sprig, star anise, and blackberries, for garnish

Make the spiced hibiscus syrup using the recipe in Notes from the Bar. Muddle the blackberries with the hibiscus syrup in a shaker, then add the bourbon, lemon juice, bitters, and ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice and garnish with a basil sprig, star anise, and a few blackberries.

NOTES FROM THE BAR

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SPICED HIBISCUS SYRUP

We make our own for this one — it's ginger-forward, keeps in the fridge for up to three weeks, and works across a whole collection of cocktails. Full recipe here.


Flavor Profile

Warm, spiced hibiscus syrup brings a festive floral sweetness balanced by tart lemon and rich bourbon.


Seasonal Garnish

Fresh basil and star anise make this cocktail look as beautiful as it tastes, perfect for Christmas entertaining.


Batch for 6

Muddle 12 to 18 blackberries with 4 1/2 oz spiced hibiscus syrup in a pitcher, then add 12 oz bourbon, 3 oz fresh lemon juice, and 12 dashes Angostura bitters. Strain out the berry pulp, chill, and pour over crushed ice when ready to serve.


Serving Style

Serve over crushed ice in a rocks glass for the best texture and presentation.

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JUST RELEASED

30 OF OUR MOST-LOVED COCKTAILS, GATHERED INTO ONE COLLECTION

Cover of A Cocktail Collection by Kevin & Kate Carr, showing a fig cocktail garnished with thyme in a coupe on a black background, with the subtitle 30 Cocktails Worth Making Again.

A COCKTAIL COLLECTION

30 COCKTAILS WORTH MAKING AGAIN

The cocktails we come back to most, gathered into one beautiful PDF, with six new recipes created exclusively for the collection.

80 pages · 24 favorites · 6 exclusive recipes · 13 house-made components

Instant download 

A RITUAL WE RETURN TO

Our cocktails are part of something bigger for us. They’re the beginning of Date Nite, a connection-centered experience we created to help you slow down, share a meal, and enjoy time with the one you love.

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Each Date Nite is thoughtfully planned for you, so you are not stuck deciding what to cook or how to pull the night together. We pair one cocktail with a complete menu, a simple flow from prep to plate, and small details that make the evening feel easy and connected from start to finish.

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It is not about perfection. It is about presence, and creating space to reconnect, whether that is with your partner or simply with yourself, over a really good meal.

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WE CREATED THIS FOR YOU AND THE ONE YOU LOVE
Kevin & Kate

STORIES WORTH SAVORING

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At Kevin & Kate, we share recipes, cocktails, and home inspiration designed to make every day feel a little more intentional. Date Nite brings connection back to the table — through good food, good drinks, and time well spent together.

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