Originally created in the mid-1980’s, the Bramble cocktail is wonderfully rich and bursting with luscious blackberry flavours. It’s no wonder it has remained one for the most popular gin cocktails to order at bar all these years.

But did you know that the classic Bramble gin cocktail is really easy to make at home too? And it takes the work of just moments. Honestly, it’s the perfect alternative to your usual 30-second G&T when you want something with a little more pizzazz.

Give it a go…

What is in a Bramble cocktail?

A Bramble cocktail is made with four key ingredients: gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur).

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Bramble Cocktail Ingredients:

• Gin:
  
  The best gin to use in a Bramble cocktail recipe is London dry gin.
  
  This is because the complex yet refreshing juniper-forward flavour profile of a London dry gin works really well as a deliciously rich yet clean base for the citrus and berry flavours of the other ingredients in a Bramble.

• Crème de mûre:
  
  Crème de mûre is a French blackberry liqueur that is bursting with delicious berry flavours.
  
  In the Bramble, this liqueur provides the core flavour profile of the cocktail, and it is a great partner to the gin and citrus juice to give you a drinking experience that is juicy and full of blackberry tones. You can find out everything you need to know about crème de mûre here!
  
  

• Lemon juice:
  
  As the gin and crème de mûre are both very rich cocktail ingredients, lemon juice is needed to lift the drinking experience and provide a mouthwatering zip of citrus that elevates every sip.

• Simple syrup:
  
  Simple syrup is a common cocktail ingredient that can be found in every mixologist’s arsenal.
  
  A simple mix of sugar and water, the syrup adds a sweetness to the Bramble cocktail that rounds out and connects all of the other Bramble ingredients. You can buy simple syrup here!

• Bramble garnishes:
  
  The Bramble cocktail is traditionally garnished with fresh blackberries, which complete the blackberry theme in the cocktail.
  
  Of course, blackberries are at their best when juicy and ripe, freshly picked from the hedgerows - but the good news is that most supermarkets now stock bags of frozen berries year-round, meaning that just because the fruits aren’t in season, you don’t need to wait for six months to enjoy this delicious drink!
  
  Fresh lemon slices can also be used to garnish a Bramble cocktail and their fragrance can really take the cocktail to new heights.

• Ice:
  
  We like to use crushed ice for a Bramble so that the blackberry liqueur dilutes as it trickles down, leaving you with a perfectly balanced blend of sweet, sour and boozy!

What makes it a Bramble?

The Bramble cocktail is called a “Bramble” because blackberries and blackberry liqueur (creme de mure) provide the main flavour profile for the drink.

In the UK, “bramble” is another word for blackberry and it the word “bramble” also refers to the prickly bush that blackberries grow on, and which are found along hedgerows throughout the UK.

Is crème de mûre the same as Chambord?

Chambord and crème de mûre are both alcoholic liqueurs however they have different flavours.

Chambord is raspberry-flavoured and crème de mûre is blackberry-flavoured.

The best Bramble cocktail recipe:

The key to a classic Bramble cocktail is crushed ice

50ml dry gin
30ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
15ml simple syrup
15ml crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur)
Lemon slice, to garnish (optional)
Fresh (or thawed) blackberries, to garnish

In a shaker packed with ice, shake gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup vigorously. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Drizzle liqueur over ice, and garnish with lemon and blackberries to serve.

Bramble cocktail variations:

Once you have tried the classic Bramble cocktail recipe, why not try mixing it up with a variation on the Bramble, like our Raspberry Bramble cocktail recipe?

For this alturnative Bramble cocktail recipe, you simply swap the crème de mûre for Chambord and garnish with raspberries instead of blackberries and lemon.

Raspberry Bramble

50ml gin
15ml Chambord
30ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
15ml simple syrup
Raspberries, to garnish

Shake the gin, lemon juice and syrup with ice. Strain to a glass and add ice. Pour over the Chambord. Garnish, serve and enjoy!

And if you want to find the easiest Bramble recipe, then you need to check out Craft Gin Club’s Bramble. This simplified Bramble recipe uses just three ingredients: gin, lemonade and Craft Gin Club’s bespoke Bramble syrup. Check it out here!