Our September kits are on their way to subscribers, so now it’s time to tell you a little more about what’s in this month’s kit, recipes and ingredients. If you’re not a subscriber, you can join now for just £24. If you just want to try this kit on its own, you can buy one through our shop.
Rather simple to make and balanced in its sweet and sour tones, this blackberry based cocktail has become something of a modern classic, appearing on many bars’ menus. Here’s everything you need to know to make the very best Bramble cocktails at home.
To create your Bramble you will need:
- A rocks glass or tumbler
- A shaker (check out our Mixologist kit)
- A jigger (measurer)
- Plenty of ice (cubed and crushed)
- A lemon
- Blackberries to garnish
- A TASTE Bramble Kit or the below ingredients
Recipes
The Classic Bramble
- 40ml Minus 33, or London Dry Gin
- 20ml Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 10ml Sugar syrup
- 10ml Creme de Mure (to drizzle on top)
Method:
1. Pour the Minus 33, lemon juice and sugar syrup into your shaker, half-fill with cubed ice, and shake until ice cold (you can tell by the frosty condensation on the outside of the shaker)
2. Filled your glass with crushed ice, then strain the ingredients into it
3. Drizzle the Creme de Mure over the top so it trickles through the ice
4. Garnish with fresh blackberries and a slice of lemon
Bramble de Casita
Casita, a fantastic little bar in Shoreditch, London, was the birthplace of our two modern recipes this month. If you like these drinks, you should definitely check out the rest of their menu. I hear some of their drinks are only £5… 😉
- 40ml Minus 33
- 20ml Fresh lemon juice
- 10ml Sugar Syrup
- 12ml Chambord
- 3 blackberries, and 3 raspberries
- 10ml Creme de mure (to drizzle on top)
Chambord is a delicious french liqueur (check out our magazine article) that adds a raspberry flavour to the drink for even more berry goodness!
Muddle 3 raspberries and 3 blackberries in the shaker, then add the rest of the ingredients, ice, and shake hard for 10-15 seconds. Strain the liquid into a tall glass filled with crushed ice, and garnish with a lemon wedge and berries. Drink with a straw.
The Casita Club
- 40ml Minus 33
- 20ml Fresh lemon juice
- 12ml Creme de Mure
- 10ml Sugar Syrup
- 1 Egg white
- 3 Blackberries
Muddle the berries in your shaker, then add all the other ingredients and shake hard (without ice first, a “Dry-shake”) to forth up the egg white. Then add the ice and shake again. Fine strain into a coupe glass and garnish with an extra blackberry or two.
Alternative recipes
The Wibble
If you have Fresh grapefruit juice:
- 50ml Gin
- 50ml Fresh Grapefruit juice (not included in the Bramble kit)
- 12ml Lemon Juice
- 12ml Sugar syrup
- 8ml Creme de mure
- 1 twist of lemon to garnish
Shake all ingredients with ice, then fine-strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.
The Bramblette
If you have Creme de Violtte (maybe from The Aviation Kit?)
- 50ml Gin
- 25ml Creme de violette
- 20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 12ml Sugar syrup
Blackberry Gin Fizz (serves 8)
If you find yourself with an abundance of Blackberries and need to make a drink for a few more people maybe try this one:
- 1 6–ounce container of blackberries
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups gin
- 1 cup fresh lime juice
- Soda water
- 8 sprigs Thai basil or sweet basil
Purée the blackberries and sugar in a blender. Let it stand, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved (10 minutes roughly). Strain purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a jug; discard the seeds. Stir gin and lime juice into pitcher. Divide the drink among ice-filled glasses; top with soda. Garnish each with a basil sprig.
More on the Bramble
The History of the Bramble Cocktail – and some other recipes
The Story of Minus 33 “Juniper Distilled Spirit” from Loca Lab
A little bit about Casita, the bar where our awesome modern recipes were created
The Story of Cartron Creme de Mure
The Story of Chambord
How to make your own Sugar Syrup
How to make your own Blackberry Liqueur
If you’d like to try these recipes and don’t have the ingredients at home then simply visit our online shop and get a Bramble kit delivered to your door.