Americans enjoyed a variety of beverages during the Gilded Age, both the alcoholic variety such as beer, cider, wine and spirits, as well as “Temperance-approved” options such as lemonade, root beer, iced tea, shrub (a refreshing sweet drink made with fruit and vinegar) and nectars. Similar to shrubs, nectars were slightly syrupy drinks that also featured fruit and sugar, as well as a combination of other flavorings including vinegar, wine, honey, ginger or orange flower water.

The Blackberry Nectar recipe from the 1890 cookbook The New Practical Housekeeping sounded interesting and really pretty easy:

Blackberry Nectar.- To each quart water take one pound crushed berries, a sliced      lemon and teaspoon orange flower water; mix and let stand in earthen bowl three hours; strain thoroughly, squeezing all juice from fruit; dissolve one pound sugar in the liquid, strain again and put on ice until ready to serve; or half freeze it. Any other berries may be used in their season.

Here’s my adapted version:

•       2 8-oz packages fresh blackberries
•       2 lemons
•       2 teaspoons orange flower water
•       2 cups sugar

1.      Place the blackberries in a colander and rinse thoroughly. Transfer to a 4-quart bowl and mash with a fork or pastry blender.
2.      Cut one of the lemons into slices and add to the blackberry mixture. 
3.      Add the orange flower water and 4 quarts of water. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least three hours.
4.      Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, pressing down to release the juices, reserving the flavored water in a large bowl. 
5.      Add the sugar to the liquid and mix well. Strain again and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. You can also place it in the freezer for a couple of hours so that it is a slushy consistency. When ready to serve, slice the other lemon and place in a pitcher with some ice. Add the blackberry nectar. 
6.      This can be mixed with some seltzer or club soda for a bubbly version or made into a delicious cocktail by adding a shot of vodka or gin to each glass. Cheers!