Blackberry Sage Italian Soda

Ingredients

• Ice - As needed
• Club soda - 4 cups
• Fresh sage leaves - 6-8 leaves
• Water - 1/2 cup
• Sugar - 1/2 cup
• Blackberries - 1 cup

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, combine the blackberries, sugar, water, and sage leaves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until the sugar is dissolved and the blackberries are soft, about 10 minutes.
2. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the blackberries to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and let the syrup cool.
3. To serve, fill a glass with ice, add 2-3 tablespoons of the blackberry sage syrup, and top with club soda. Stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with a few fresh blackberries and a sage leaf, if desired.