Inspired by that famous ditty of the same name, which was first released in 1959 by The Clovers (and then popularly remade in 1963 by The Searchers), this little elixir has love written all over it. But unlike its namesake, which distinctively "smelled like turpentine and looked like India ink", this fabulously exotic concoction deliciously smells like Italy and looks like blue velvet ink! The secret is black sambuca, that sweetly intense Italian liqueur flavored with anise and elderberries, paired along with the tangy zing of wild blueberries...for a potion that is thankfully far more appealing to the senses. Cupid would approve.
Love Potion No. 9 makes an excellent after dinner cocktail to follow a romantic menu including favorites like Tagliatelle with Gorgonzola Dolce or Porcini Pasta.
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Ingredients for Love Potion No. 9
- wild blueberries
- lemon
- black sambuca (preferably Romana Black)
- vodka
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions for Love Potion No. 9
Place the wild blueberries, lemon juice, and vodka into a blender.
Process until the blueberries are completely liquified.
Toss a generous amount of ice into a cocktail shaker, and then pour in the blueberry and vodka mixture. Add the black sambuca.
Shake vigorously, and then strain into a Nick and Nora glass (or other vessel of your choice).
Hint: In my humble opinion, a Nick and Nora glass is undoubtedly the best vessel for serving up some Love Potion No. 9.
Equipment
You'll need both a blender and a cocktail shaker for this little elixir...the blender in order to transform your wild blueberries into a deep violet nectar and the cocktail shaker to then bring the whole potion together!
Top tip
Wild blueberries make a far better choice than the domestic variety when mixing up some Love Potion No. 9, since they offer a much more pronounced and complex flavor. In addition, they're gorgeously deep in color, and their skins seem to break down more easily than the domestic sort for a smoother consistency when blended. Finally, when it comes to the question of fresh or frozen, this is another instance where I would wholeheartedly recommend frozen!
Related
Looking for more cocktail recipes that tend to fit a romantic mood? Try these:
📖 Recipe
Love Potion No. 9
Equipment
- blender
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- ½ cup wild blueberries (frozen works best)
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice (about half a lemon)
- 4 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce black sambuca (preferably Romana Black)
Instructions
- Place the wild blueberries, lemon juice, and vodka into a blender. Process until the blueberries are completely liquefied.
- Toss a generous amount of ice into a cocktail shaker, and then pour in the blueberry and vodka mixture. Add the black sambuca as well.
- Shake vigorously. Then strain, sip, and let the potion do its work!
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