I love how this Bramble turns a handful of simple ingredients into a jewel-toned gin cocktail with tart blackberry drama. It’s crisp, striking, and just mysterious enough to make you want the next sip.

Jump to Recipe

I’m obsessed with the Bramble because it tastes sharp, dark, and a little reckless in the best way. London Dry gin brings that crisp botanical bite, then blackberry liqueur slides in with this deep berry sweetness that never feels sticky or fake.

I love how it hits bright first, then turns juicy and moody, like a cocktail that knows exactly what it’s doing. And that crushed-ice situation?

Pure bar energy at home. But the real reason I keep coming back is the balance.

Tart, boozy, fruity, clean. No fuss.

Just a seriously good drink with a London backstory and a blackberry-stained grin.

Ingredients

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

London Dry gin brings that crisp, piney backbone so the drink doesn’t taste too sweet.
Fresh lemon juice keeps it bright and tart, like a little wake-up call.
Simple syrup softens the sour edge without making it feel like candy.
Blackberry liqueur adds juicy berry depth and that gorgeous purple drizzle moment.
Crushed ice makes it extra cold, slushy, and honestly way more fun.
Plus, lemon or blackberries make it look cute without trying too hard.

Ingredient Quantities

2 oz London Dry gin

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz simple syrup

1/2 oz blackberry liqueur or crème de mûre

Crushed ice, to fill glass

Lemon wheel or fresh blackberries for garnish

How to Make this

Print Recipe (No Advertisments)

1. Add 2 oz London Dry gin, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.

2. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.

3. Fill a rocks glass or old fashioned glass with crushed ice to the top.

4. Strain the chilled gin mixture over the crushed ice.

5. Slowly pour 1/2 oz blackberry liqueur or crème de mûre over the top so it sinks and creates a marbled, blackberry-streaked effect.

6. Gently stir once or twice if you prefer a more integrated flavor, or leave layered for visual contrast.

7. Garnish with a lemon wheel or a few fresh blackberries on a skewer.

8. Serve with a short straw or stirrer and enjoy immediately.

Equipment Needed

1. Cocktail shaker with built in or separate lid and cap
2. Jigger or measuring tools (for ounces)
3. Citrus juicer or handheld reamer
4. Hawthorne or fine mesh strainer
5. Rocks or old fashioned glass
6. Ice crusher or mallet and sturdy bag for crushed ice
7. Bar spoon or short stirrer
8. Cocktail pick or small skewer for garnish

FAQ

Can I make a nonalcoholic version? Yes. Substitute the gin with a high quality nonalcoholic gin alternative and replace the blackberry liqueur with a blackberry syrup or cordial, adjusting sweetness to taste.

What can I use if I do not have blackberry liqueur? Use crème de mûre, a blackberry syrup, or a splash of muddled blackberry purée with a little simple syrup for sweetness.

How do I make simple syrup? Combine equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan, heat until sugar dissolves, cool and store refrigerated for up to one month.

Why crushed ice? Crushed ice chills and dilutes quickly, creating the Bramble signature texture and allowing the liqueur to weave through the drink visually and in flavor.

Can I batch this cocktail for a party? Yes. Mix gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a pitcher and keep chilled. Add crushed ice and pour into individual glasses, then float the blackberry liqueur on each serving to preserve the layered effect.

Bramble Cocktail Recipe Substitutions and Variations

2 oz London Dry gin: Substitute 2 oz Old Tom gin for a slightly sweeter, rounder profile or 2 oz vodka for a cleaner, more neutral base.
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice: Use 3/4 oz fresh lime juice for a brighter, slightly more tart edge or 3/4 oz grapefruit juice for a subtle bitter-fruity twist.
1/2 oz simple syrup: Swap with 1/2 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) for floral depth or 1/2 oz agave nectar diluted with a touch of water for a milder sweetness.
1/2 oz blackberry liqueur or crème de mûre: Replace with 1/2 oz Chambord for a richer raspberry-blackberry mix or 1/2 oz muddled fresh blackberries plus 1/4 oz extra simple syrup for a fruitier, less boozy finish.

Pro Tips

1. Chill your glass and gin beforehand so the drink stays bright longer once poured over crushed ice.
2. Use a small spoon or back of a bar spoon to gently float the blackberry liqueur; pouring too fast will mix it away and lose that pretty marbling.
3. Make a half-and-half simple syrup if you prefer a cleaner, less syrupy finish; adjust to taste but keep the lemon dominant for balance.
4. Muddle a couple of fresh blackberries lightly in the shaker if you want extra fruit aroma and texture, but strain well if you want to keep the drink silky.

Bramble Cocktail Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

210

kcal

Equipment: 1. Cocktail shaker with built in or separate lid and cap
2. Jigger or measuring tools (for ounces)
3. Citrus juicer or handheld reamer
4. Hawthorne or fine mesh strainer
5. Rocks or old fashioned glass
6. Ice crusher or mallet and sturdy bag for crushed ice
7. Bar spoon or short stirrer
8. Cocktail pick or small skewer for garnish

Ingredients

2 oz London Dry gin
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz blackberry liqueur or crème de mûre
Crushed ice, to fill glass
Lemon wheel or fresh blackberries for garnish

Directions

Add 2 oz London Dry gin, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
Fill a rocks glass or old fashioned glass with crushed ice to the top.
Strain the chilled gin mixture over the crushed ice.
Slowly pour 1/2 oz blackberry liqueur or crème de mûre over the top so it sinks and creates a marbled, blackberry-streaked effect.
Gently stir once or twice if you prefer a more integrated flavor, or leave layered for visual contrast.
Garnish with a lemon wheel or a few fresh blackberries on a skewer.
Serve with a short straw or stirrer and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.