Bramble Cocktail Recipe – How to make a Bramble

 

Bramble Cocktail Kit

Simple to make and well balanced in its sweet and sour tones the Bramble has become something of a modern classic now appearing on most bar menus in the UK. Essentially its a short “Gin Sour” with a drizzle of Creme de Mure, a French blackberry liqueur, over the top.

The recipes for a Bramble cocktail normally consist of the following ingredients:

Gin
Gin is definitely in high fashion, scores of Gin distilleries have been popping up across the UK in recent years. There are numerous gins on the market all with their own flavours and fascinating stories, which gin you use is up to your personal tastes however we are using something a little different, a little lighter; Loca Lab’s “Minus 33” – check out the blog post to find out more about this ‘juniper distilled spirit‘.

Lemon Juice
Freshly squeezed lemon juice, used to balance the sweetness of the sugar and berries in this cocktail.

Sugar Syrup
2:1 sugar to water ratio. Check out our blog post on how to make your own sugar syrup at home.

Creme de Mure
A French blackberry liqueur. We use one from Joseph Cartron. Alternatively try making your own – keep an eye out for our next blog post on ‘How to make your own Blackberry liqueur’.

Ice
Crushed ice is important in this drink for chilling and dilution. At home, you can simply smash your cubes while wrapped in a clean dish towel, with a rolling pin or something heavy.

Blackberries and slice of lemon to garnish

If you’re lucky enough to have access to fresh blackberries then this recipe is a must!

How to make a Bramble

bramble

Image credit: Liquor.com

The Classic Bramble Cocktail Recipe
You will need:

Cocktail shaker (check our our equipment kits)
Strainer
Crushed Ice
Old fashioned glass
Fresh Blackberries
Lemon
The Bramble Cocktail Kit, or the below ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 2 shots (50ml) London Dry Gin (or Minus 33!)
  • 1 shot (25ml) Freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 shot Sugar syrup
  • 1/2 shot Creme de Mure

Method:

1. Pour the Gin, Lemon Juice and sugar syrup into your shaker, half-fill with ice, and shake until ice cold

2. Strain into an old fashioned rock glass filled with crushed ice

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

Don’t have all the ingredients or want to try some variations as well? We sell a Bramble Kit with everything you need, delivered straight to your door!

 

bramble kit

 

 

Variations

The Wibblewibble

Mix all the above ingredients plus 25ml of grapefruit juice, strain and serve over crushed ice. Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.

Ramble

Simply swap the Creme de Mure for Chambord and garnish with raspberries.

The history of the Bramble

Invented in 1984 by Dick Bradsell at Fred’s Club in London Soho, it has become one of the UK’s favourite “unusual” cocktails. It’s well balanced, refreshing and easy to make.

Dick wanted to make a British take on the Singapore Sling, and was inspired by picking fresh blackberries on the Isle of Wight where he grew up.

Its rather memorable name is thought to have come from the winding nature the liqueur takes finding its way from the top to the bottom of the glass through the crushed ice, as if it were quite literally dodging through brambles.

Do you have your own recipe or take on the classic? Let us know in the comments below.

We love this cocktail so much, we’ve chosen it for our September Subscribers kit. Join here and be the first to get one, for just £24.

 

Bramble Cocktail Kit

Leave a Reply