Blackberry Bramble Recipe

There’s just something exhilarating about crafting a cocktail that glistens with vibrant colors and captures the essence of a sun-soaked berry patch—welcome to my world of the refreshing Blackberry Bramble. 🍹✨

I adore making a cooling, classic Blackberry Bramble, a cocktail that is a masterpiece of tart and sweet contrasts. My favorite moment is when I combine gin with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a whisper of simple syrup to form a base that is, in all respects, delightful.

Crème de mûre, a liqueur made from blackberries, really gives this drink its signature berry flavor, and its addition makes the drinking experience one of sublime berry pleasure. This cocktail is best enjoyed over crushed ice and garnished with fresh blackberries and lemon, but its many layers of flavor make it a perfect sipper in any form or at any temperature.

Blackberry Bramble Recipe Ingredients

• Gin: Provides herbal and juniper notes; base spirit for cocktails.
• Lemon Juice: Fresh, zesty, and tart; adds refreshing acidity.
• Simple Syrup: Sweetens gently; balances tartness of lemon.
• Crème de Mûre: Blackberry liqueur; adds rich berry sweetness.
• Fresh Blackberries: Adds fiber and antioxidants; natural garnish.

Blackberry Bramble Recipe Ingredient Quantities

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• 0.5 oz crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur)
• Fresh blackberries, for garnish
• Lemon wheel or twist, for garnish
• Crushed ice

How to Make this Blackberry Bramble Recipe

1. An ancient style of glass known as an old-fashioned glass should be filled with crushed ice. The glass, now filled, must then be set aside so that it can achieve a sufficient level of chill before the next step in the process.

In terms of parts, this is really quite simple.

2. Combine the gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.

3. Load the shaker with ice and shake hard for about 10-15 seconds until the blend is very cold. Then strain into a coupe glass.

4. Pour the mixture through a strainer into the ready glass that is filled with crushed ice. The mixture will settle naturally over the ice.

5. Gently drizzle the crème de mûre on top of the drink, letting it run downward through the slush and into the bottom half of the glass.

6. With a bar spoon or straw, lightly stir to mix just enough to create a marbled appearance. The ingredients should remain mostly separate and not fully blend.

7. Decorate with newly picked blackberries, putting them gently atop the ice.

8. For an added decorative touch, consider adding a lemon wheel or twist.

9. Immediately serve with a straw and enjoy while still very cold.

10. Relish your Blackberry Bramble and the equilibrium of its sweet and tart taste.

Blackberry Bramble Recipe Equipment Needed

1. Old-fashioned glass
2. Coupe glass
3. Cocktail shaker
4. Strainer
5. Jigger or measuring tool
6. Bar spoon or straw
7. Lemon juicer (for freshly squeezed lemon juice)

FAQ

• What type of gin works best for a Blackberry Bramble?The fruity, tart flavors of a Blackberry Bramble provide a delightful contrast to a dry gin. This is why London Dry Gin, a kind of dry gin, mixes so well with this drink.
• Can I use a blackberry syrup instead of crème de mûre?Although you can use blackberry syrup as a substitute, crème de mûre delivers a deeper and more true-to-form blackberry flavor.
• How do I make simple syrup?Dissolve sugar and water in equal parts over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let it cool before using. Simple syrup.
• What’s the best way to crush ice for this cocktail?Ice can be crushed using a Lewis bag and mallet; alternatively, you can wrap ice cubes in a clean towel and smash them using a rolling pin or another heavy object.
• Can I prepare a Blackberry Bramble in advance?The fresh state of concentrates preserves their vibrant flavors, but you can prep the syrup and juice in advance.
• Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Blackberry Bramble?Indeed, you can switch out the gin for a non-alcoholic alternative, and for the crème de mûre, use blackberry syrup.
• What’s the purpose of the lemon garnish?Adding a lemon finish takes the fragrance of the drink into the stratosphere. There’s a lot of aromatic oils right under the skin of a lemon, and when you cut into one or twist the peel, you’re releasing them. You garnish with it not just to make the drink pretty but to make it taste better.

Blackberry Bramble Recipe Substitutions and Variations

When using vodka in place of gin, the flavor profile of the base spirit changes. Vodka’s flavor is smoother, and it doesn’t have the herbal and botanical notes that gin has. For this reason, when using vodka in any recipe that calls for gin, you may want to experiment with adding fresh herbs or dry herbs to your drink in order to replicate the flavor of the gin you’re missing. Otherwise, you’re just mixing vodka with whatever else is in the drink—like the Negroni, for instance.
For lemon juice: Use lime juice for a somewhat different citrus profile.
For plain syrup: Substitute with honey syrup for a more robust sweetness.
To make crème de mûre: Use raspberry liqueur for a different berry twist.
For fresh blackberries: Substitute with blueberries to achieve a one-of-a-kind garnish in contrast to that of the average beverage.

Pro Tips

1. Chill Your Glassware: Before you start mixing, place your old-fashioned glass in the freezer for a few minutes. This extra chill helps maintain the drink’s refreshing coolness longer.