You’re searching for the Bramble because you’ve heard whispers of this modern classic, and rightfully so. This isn’t just another gin cocktail; it’s the drink that proved contemporary bartenders could create instant classics. We’re here to show you exactly how to craft this stunning purple-hued masterpiece.
If you appreciate cocktails that strike a balance between sophistication and approachability, you’ve found your new obsession.
What Is a Bramble Cocktail?
Quick Answer: The Bramble is a modern classic created by bartender Dick Bradsell in 1980s London. Built on gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, then finished with crème de mûre, a sweet blackberry liqueur, that creates beautiful purple streaks through crushed ice.
Bradsell created this as his love letter to the British countryside, inspired by childhood memories of picking blackberries. Unlike most “modern classics,” the Bramble was immediately embraced worldwide.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make a Bramble Cocktail
How to Make a Bramble Cocktail
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice for 15 seconds.
- Strain over crushed ice in a rocks glass.
- Slowly drizzle crème de mûre over a bar spoon to create purple streaks.
- Garnish with blackberry and lemon wheel.
Bartender’s Tips
- Tip 1: Crushed ice provides faster dilution that mellows gin’s intensity while keeping the drink cold.
- Tip 2: Pour crème de mûre slowly—the visual impact is half the experience.
- Tip 3: No crème de mûre? Muddle fresh blackberries with simple syrup, though you’ll lose complexity.
How to Serve This Bramble Cocktail
Serve immediately in a rocks glass. Perfect for early evening sipping – sophisticated enough for cocktail hour but approachable for casual gatherings.
More Cocktail Recipes
Ready for more gin classics? Check our gin cocktail collection where tradition meets innovation.
Bramble Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz London dry gin
- 1 oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz simple syrup
- ½ oz crème de mûre blackberry liqueur
- Garnish: fresh blackberry lemon wheel
Instructions
- Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake until well chilled.
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with crushed ice.
- Drizzle crème de mûre over the top.
- Garnish with a fresh blackberry and lemon wheel.
Video
Recipe FAQs
Muddle fresh blackberries with simple syrup as a substitute, though the flavor will be less complex.
Because no other will do. It creates proper dilution and texture for the crème de mûre cascade effect.
London dry gins like Tanqueray or Beefeater complement the blackberry perfectly.
Pre-mix gin, lemon, and syrup, but add crème de mûre individually for visual drama.
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