This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Bramble is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell in London, England. Cocktail legend claims Bradsell’s goal was to made a British cocktail that was inspired by his childhood memories of berry picking on the Isle of Wight. He achieved this by adding blackberry to the sour template traditionally made with gin, lemon, and simple syrup. Although some variations use blackberry liqueur now in lieu of blackberry syrup like this one, the drink’s name is still self-explanatory; it comes from the fact that berry bushes are called brambles.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Broker’s Premium London Dry Gin.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Blackberry Syrup: This is a sweetener made with blackberries, white sugar, citric acid, and water. I made mine using this sous vide recipe.
Blackberries: This a glossy black berry formed by multiple small fruits that each contain a seed.
Lemon Wedge: This is a slice of lemon that has been cut into a wedge shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. I used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-14.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Bright red-purple color
• Aroma: Citrus and juniper
• Taste: Punchy berry and lemon flavor with herbal gin notes
• Finish: More dark blackberry berry and syrupy mouthfeel
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “Hello, blackberries! One sip of this, and I was immediately hooked. The drink itself is very tasty and dangerously easy to down thanks to the citrus’s and blackberry syrup’s ability to hide the gin’s usually very present botanicals quite well. And speaking of the syrup, wow, does it take the Bramble recipe to the next level. It’s so rich and delicious… I highly recommend making some with my sous vide recipe and trying it in this cocktail or the Harvest Run recipe so you can see just how incredible it is for yourself.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-14.
Bramble
The Bramble is a classic cocktail that was created in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell in London, England. Cocktail legend claims Bradsell’s goal was to made a British cocktail that was inspired by his childhood memories of berry picking on the Isle of Wight. He achieved this by adding blackberry to the sour template traditionally made with gin, lemon, and simple syrup. The name itself is self-explanatory; it comes from the fact that berry bushes are called brambles.
Ingredients
Method
-
Add five blackberries and ¼ oz blackberry syrup to a shaker.
-
Muddle gently.
-
Add gin, lemon juice, ½ oz blackberry syrup, and cubed ice to shaker.
-
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
-
Strain into a lowball glass over fresh crushed ice.
-
Garnish with one blackberry and lemon slice.
