Best Substitutes for Berries

Out of Berries? Here are the best alternatives that work in cocktail recipes.

Berries — mixer used in cocktails

Original Ingredient

Berries

Mixer Bright, fragrant berry medley nose with floral and fruity sweetness. Juicy palate with balanced tartness and jammy depth. Fresh, fruity finish with mild tannic grip from seeds.

Recommended Substitutes

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Strawberries

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Blackberries

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

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Cranberries

Use as a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted.

General Substitution Tips

  • Match the alcohol level: a 40% spirit needs a similarly strong replacement or adjust volume.
  • For liqueurs, dilute spirits + simple syrup can replicate sweetness and proof.
  • Citrus substitutions: lemon and lime are mostly interchangeable at a 1:1 ratio.
  • For bitters, Angostura is the most neutral substitute for most other aromatic bitters.