Inspired by the July Buck moon, this Blackberry & Bourbon Spritzer (with nonalcoholic options) is tangy and empowering. It features summer seasonal herbs like thyme and sage, as well as refreshing grapefruit and lemon to uplift your senses—a perfect sparkling beverage for insight and invigoration under the summer Buck moon.
Today's post is brought to you by the wonderful Julia Halina Hadas of WitchCraft Cocktails.
What is the Spiritual meaning of the Full Buck Moon?
The various moons of the year are named after key seasonal events, heralding their themes and magic. The name Buck moon nods to the regrown antlers of male deers, shining in their new velvety coating. Sometimes, the July full moon may be called Thunder moon for summer storms, or Hay Moon for the harvesting of hay.
The full Buck moon reminds us of our own crowns (like newly grown antlers)—our personal power and spiritual knowledge. The lunar cycles of summer mirror the sun’s strength long through the night, inspiring reflection on inner growth and spiritual power. Now in the midst of summer, our vitality and liveliness are renewed—is it being put to use in ways that are aligned to our spirit? Just like how the buck’s antlers regrow, we can always restart and grow anew before the coming autumn harvests.
The Moon in Capricorn
This moon will also be in Capricorn, the sea goat. Capricorn can inspire a focus on achievement and goals, with the wisdom and structure of Saturn. Conversely, the sun is in Cancer—an energy that brings focus to the realm of feeling, intuition, and emotional connection. The opposition of the sun in Cancer and the full moon in Capricorn, coupled with the Buck moon themes, invites us to reflect on personal goals and aspirations and bring them into balance with our spiritual needs, insights, and wisdom.
Between the name Buck moon and the moon being in the sign of the sea goat, this moon certainly carries a focus on the symbolism of horns or antlers. Growing from the crown of one’s head—the energy center associated with the higher self and spiritual connection and knowledge—antlers can symbolically signify spiritual wisdom, achievement, and regality. It’s a great time to tune into your inner wisdom, for strength and personal power.
About the Buck Moon Blackberry & Bourbon Spritzer
The Buck Moon invites us to connect to our inner wisdom, strength, and spiritual power. Likewise, this ginger-and-thyme grapefruit bourbon spritzer is an empowering, tangy citrus drink, topped with the spice of ginger. Using ingredients available in the summer, this beverage is a celebration of the season and the regrowth, inner strength, and wisdom gained under the Buck Moon.
Bourbon, a grain-based spirit infused with oak, fortifies the recipe in both energy and flavor, and adds a grounding tone. Non-alcoholic sippers can enjoy the recipe sans bourbon, or even replace it with Lyre’s traditional reserve. Thyme invokes courage, insight, and healing, while sage offers wisdom and spirituality. A hint of blackberry and honey is added for the abundance of summer, while citruses grapefruit and lemon help uplift the recipe with cleansing energy and a boost of positivity. Finished with a thyme, sage, and blackberry garnish oriented in a way to mimic antlers, this drink is tangy and invigorating for some Buck Moon magic. It makes a perfect accompaniment as you tune into your inner wisdom and power under the light of the full Capricorn buck moon.
Looking for more awesome cocktail ideas? Try this Brown Elephant Amarula Cocktail or a Spiced Sparkling Cider Cocktail.
PrintBuck Moon Blackberry & Bourbon Spritzer
Inspired by the July Buck moon, this blackberry, bourbon (with nonalcoholic options), and ginger beer drink recipe is tangy and empowering. It features summer seasonal herbs like thyme and sage, as well as refreshing grapefruit and lemon to uplift your senses—a perfect sparkling beverage for insight and invigoration under the summer Buck moon.
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Mixed
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 full thyme sprigs
- 2 big sage leaves
- 2 large blackberries
- 1.25 ounces honey simple syrup (1:1 ratio honey to hot water, measured separately)
- 1 ounce grapefruit, freshly juiced
- ½ ounce lemon, freshly juiced
- 1.5 ounces bourbon (skip for NA, or replace with Lyre’s traditional reserve)
- 1-1.5 ounces strong Ginger beer (optional) I used Q Ginger Beer
Instructions
- Place thyme, sage, and blackberry into drink/cocktail shaker.
- Pour in honey—a sweetening agent to attract your intentions, and reminiscent of the summer sun and bees hard at work.
- Muddle the blackberry, thyme, and sage into the honey syrup, incorporating the empowering energy of wisdom into the sweetening honey.
- Pour in cleansing & uplifting grapefruit and lemon, to cleanse and uplift, like horns lifting to the sky.
- Add ice to your shaker, and shake—tuning into the rhythm of the shaker like a sacred drum beat.
- If enjoying the recipe without ginger beer, strain into stemmed cocktail glass. If enjoying this drink with ginger beer, pour into a collins glass over ice, and add ginger beer.
- Garnish with 2 thyme sprigs and sage leaves oriented in a horn-like fashion, with a blackberry in the middle for the buck’s head (and as a delicious, sensual, tasty snack).
About Julia
Author of WitchCraft Cocktails, Moon, Magic, Mixology, and The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology & Moon Magick, magical mixologist Julia Halina Hadas combines her professions in the witchcraft, healing, and alcoholic spirits industries for potent and delicious drinkable potions. She is a certified reiki, crystal, and energy worker. You can learn more at her main blog, WitchcraftCocktails.com.
Julia Halina Hadas says
Thank you for having me as a guest blog! 🙂 It's been lovely connecting with you ❤️
Renee says
Thanks so much for your incredible contribution.