The Bramble

ByAllan
A bramble cocktail in a lowball glass on ice with blackberries and lemon slice garnish

The Bramble cocktail is about as English as a drink can get—combining English gin with that ever-so-British summer pastime of picking blackberries.

Invented in the 1980s by legendary British barman Dick Bradsell, the name “Bramble,” for those unfamiliar, refers to the thorny blackberry bushes that flourish across the British countryside. Take a stroll almost anywhere in Britain during summer and you’ll find blackberry bushes bursting with dark fruit—so it’s hardly surprising that the British would create a cocktail that celebrates this seasonal abundance.

The botanicals of the gin and the tartness of lemon form the perfect acidic base for the sweet sugar syrup and Crème de Mûre. The resulting balance of zest, sweetness, and alcohol strength is refreshing and vibrant—perfect over crushed ice on a summer’s day or evening.

The Bramble Ingredients:

  • 45ml Dry Gin

  • 30ml Fresh Lemon Juice

  • 12.5ml Sugar Syrup

  • 12.5ml Crème de Mûre*

  • Crushed ice

  • Orange slice and blackberry (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Add the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

  2. Shake well and strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with crushed ice.

  3. Top up the glass with more crushed ice, forming a small peak.

  4. Gently pour the Crème de Mûre over the peak to create a “bleeding” effect.

  5. Garnish with a slice of orange and a fresh blackberry.

  6. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Note: Crème de Mûre is a blackberry liqueur, widely available wherever good cocktail mixers are sold. However, there’s no need to rush out and buy a bottle just to try this gorgeous cocktail—it’s actually very easy to make at home.

Homemade Crème de Mûre (Blackberry Liqueur)

Crème de Mûre is a beautiful way to use up the blackberries that nature so generously provides each year. It also doubles as a great substitute for Crème de Cassis, meaning that once you’ve made it, you can also whip up a Kir Royale (simply add to sparkling wine).

While there are many recipes available, my preference is for a red wine–based Crème de Mûre. I always use vodka as the base spirit, as it’s neutral and won’t compete with other flavours.

📌 A mantra worth repeating:
Never cook—or craft liqueurs—with a wine you wouldn’t drink.

If you like a full-flavoured liqueur, go with Syrah/Shiraz. For something a little drier, Merlot works beautifully.

Crème de Mûre Recipe –  use in The Bramble cocktail

Ingredients:

  • 700g fresh blackberries (washed)

  • 750ml bottle of Merlot or Shiraz

  • 300g white sugar

  • 120ml vodka

Instructions:

  1. In a large jar or container, combine the blackberries and red wine.

  2. Cover and let steep in a cool, dark place for 48 hours, stirring occasionally.

  3. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or muslin cloth to remove solids.

  4. Add the sugar and vodka to the liquid, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

  5. Bottle and store in a cool, dark place. It will keep for several months.

  6. Use in cocktails or drizzle over desserts!

 

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