Cocktail: Make the James Beard Awards drink

While most of us weren’t in attendance atthe James Beard Foundation’s 25th annual awards gala in Chicago to watch the top chefs, bartenders and restaurant owners in the country be honored with the prestigious award, we can still drink like the gala-going crowd.

This year, nominees and guests were sipping on the specially concocted JBF Bramble, made with the new Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron, mixed with lemon juice, simple syrup and blackberry purée.

Toast to the best mixologistsin thecountry by crafting the cocktail at home.

JBF Bramble

2 parts BacardiGran Reserva Maestro de Ron

3/4 parts lemon juice

3/4 parts simple syrup

3/4 parts of blackberry purée

Method: Shake all ingredients vigorously with plenty ice, strain into a highball glass then pack it with crushed ice and drizzle blackberry purée on top. Garnish with a blackberry skewer and basil leaf.