Bramble Cocktail Recipe

Probably my favourite gin cocktail, the Bramble is a modern-classic. It is better suited to the warmer months when blackberries are in season, although I drink it year-round. It’s a riff on the classic Gin Sour template which, just by adding one ingredient, completely alters the flavour profile. It’s not difficult to make either. 

Inspired by his youth picking blackberries on the Isle of Wight, the Bramble was created in the 1980’s by the legendary Dick Bradsell in Fred’s Club in London’s Soho. He was one of the pioneers of the craft cocktail movement and he also created the iconic Espresso Martini. The Bramble is sweet, sour, refreshing and dangerously easy to drink.  

Prep time: 3 minutes (Longer if you crush your own ice) 

Tools: 

• Shaker, Boston glass, jigger, citrus juicer, hawthorn strainer and a double Old-Fashioned glass. 

Ingredients:

• 45ml/1.5oz London Dry Gin 

• 30ml/1oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 15ml/0.5oz simple 1:1 sugar syrup- Recipe can be found here 

• 10ml/0.33oz Crème de Mûre 

• Ice cubes for shaking

• Crushed ice for the drink- You can crush your own ice at home using a rolling pin which is very noisy but effective. Alternatively, most major supermarkets sell a 2kg bag for around £1, it’s easiest to buy it but it often isn’t “crushed” enough. I like to use an ice crushing machine. It’s a little noisy but quick and makes the ice really small and easy to compact into the glass.

Steps: 

Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a mixing glass, fill with cubed ice and shake until the cocktail shaker frosts over (around 10-15 seconds). Strain into an Old-Fashioned glass over crushed ice and pack with more crushed ice to make a mound.

Drizzle the Crème de Mûre for around 2-3 seconds to create a bleeding ‘bramble’ effect. If desired and in season, garnish with fresh blackberries and a fresh lemon slice and serve with a short, sustainable straw. Enjoy.

Let me know what you thought of the drink below.

Cheers,
Terry