Welcome to our brand-new content series, ‘Spotlight On….’! Every month, we’ll be shining a spotlight on an exciting ingredient to add to your gin shelf that you can use to up your gin cocktail-making game!
We’ll be looking at classic - and some lesser-known - ingredients that pop up time and again in gin cocktails, and exploring them in a bit more detail so you can confidently start building your cocktail skills and knowledge at home.
Even if you’re already familiar with the ingredient, we hope you’ll be able to discover something new about it, whether it’s the basics of how it’s made, where it comes from, what it tastes like, how best to to store it, and of course, plenty of serving suggestions and cocktail recipes for the most enjoyable ways to drink it!
We’re launching this new series with one of our favourite ingredients, that’s a staple of bartenders and cocktail connoisseurs around the world: crème de mûre. Best known for its starring role in one of our all-time favourite gin cocktails, the Bramble (you’ll find a recipe for that below), there’s plenty more you can do with this delicious fruity tipple. So, without further ado - it’s time to focus that spotlight on… crème de mûre!
What is crème de mûre, and what does it taste like?
Crème de mûre is a dark purple liqueur made from juicy blackberries. French artisans have been crafting crème de mûre since the 1800s.
This velvety, rich, almost jam-like liqueur combines natural fruity sweetness with a little hint of very subtly bitter, complex tartness. It’s an authentic, aromatic liqueur that lingers long on the finish - a flavour profile which makes it the perfect companion to juniper, and you’ll often find it paired with gin on the cocktail menus of world-class bars.
If you like Chambord, Maraschino Liqueur or Crème de Cassis, then definitely give Crème de Mûre a go - you’ll love it!
Does crème de mûre contain alcohol?
As a liqueur, yes, crème de mûre does contain alcohol, but its alcohol content is much lower than spirits such as gin or vodka. The typical ABV (alcohol by volume) for crème de mûre is between 16-20% - roughly half that of a typical London Dry Gin.
Which brand of crème de mûre is the best?
We recommend Gabriel Boudier Crème de Mûre Sauvages as the best brand available in the UK market right now. Selected by our team of Craft Gin Club experts as the top brand of its kind, it really is the crème de la crème of blackberry liqueurs, and beat off stiff competition to appear as the only blackberry liqueur on our online shop.
How is crème de mûre made?
Our favourite brand of this rich, sweet and gloriously juicy purple liqueur is crafted in Dijon, France, by artisans who extract the intense and naturally sweet flavours of the finest wild blackberries from across Europe, Morocco and Chile by macerating them in a neutral base spirit.
Does crème de mûre need to be refrigerated?
As with most liqueurs, it’s advisable to store your crème de mûre in a cool, dark place before opening; once open, we recommend keeping it in the fridge, and ideally finishing the bottle within a month or so. (What a hard challenge…!)
How do I drink or serve crème de mûre?
As a gin lover, you’re probably already familiar with the classic gin cocktail, the Bramble, which legendary bartender Dick Bradsell created in the 1980s using a combination of crème de mûre, gin, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup. If you’ve not yet tried this fantastic - and surprisingly simple - cocktail at home, then head to our online shop, where you can pick up all the ingredients you’ll need in our Bramble Cocktail Bundle, then follow our recipe below to try one yourself.
What you might not know is that crème de mûre is actually a very versatile ingredient, beyond the Bramble. A staple for the world’s best bartenders, it’s easy to use at home.
So, for a little inspiration on how to use crème de mûre, here are five of our favourite gin cocktail recipes that feature this exquisite liqueur.
PS: Let us know how you get on - we love to see photos of your homemade cocktails on our Facebook and Instagram pages!
5 of the Best Blackberry & Gin Cocktails using Crème de Mûre
Bramble
One of the all-time classic gin cocktails, the secret to the lasting popularity of this drink is its delicious blackberry flavours from the crème de mûre. Check out our simple recipe to create this beautiful tipple at home in just a few easy steps.
2. Blackberry 75
25ml gin
20ml crème de mûre
15ml lemon juice
100ml Champagne or sparkling wine, to top up
Fresh blackberries or raspberries, to garnish
Add all the ingredients except the sparkling wine to a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake well. Strain into a Champagne flute or coupe and top with sparkling wine (prosecco is also delicious, just a little sweeter). Garnish with a fresh blackberry or a twist of lemon peel and serve.
3. Crème de Mûre Martini
40ml gin
40ml Lillet Blanc
10ml crème de mûre
½ tsp absinthe (optional)
Lemon twist, or rosemary sprig, to garnish
Add all your ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir to chill. Strain into a martini or coupe glass and garnish.
4. Ginger Berry Highball
35ml gin
15ml crème de mûre
20ml lime juice
Ginger beer, to top up
Lime wheel and mint, to garnish
Add all your ingredients to a highball glass with ice. Stir and garnish to serve.
“It might make you wobble, but it won’t make you fall down” - bartender and creator of the classic Wibble cocktail, Dick Bradsell
5. Wibble
25ml gin
25ml sloe gin
35ml grapefruit juice
15ml lemon juice
15ml crème de mûre
Blackberries, to garnish
Add all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a coupe and garnish.
Note: you can find a selection of sloe gins, gin, juices and crème de mûre on our online shop.
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