The Bramble Cocktail: A Modern Classic of Gin and Blackberry

The Bramble is a modern classic and a simple gin cocktail with a fruity flair. The story goes that it was created in 1984 by U.K. bartender Dick Bradsell and it has been enjoyed by many drinkers ever since. It's also a drink that is open to interpretation, so it's okay if you don't have the exact ingredients in the recipe.

The feature of this enhanced gin sour is the crème de mûre, a blackberry liqueur. Though it is not a common bar ingredient, it is nice to have around for drinks such as this. If you have access to a good crop of blackberries, you might even try to make your own. It's as easy as adding the berries to a standard homemade liqueur recipe.

While the Bramble is a fantastic cocktail, it is completely different than the drink known as the Bramble Bar, which has a scotch base. Both make fantastic summertime drinks and they're actually quite nice to serve together so both your whiskey and gin loving guests are satisfied.

How Will You Bramble?

The Bramble may have a short history, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been adapted many times. Some recipes will suggest a London dry gin while others opt for the fruitier Plymouth Gin.

You will also find recipes that use either lemon or lime juice. If you do switch to lemon juice, use a lemon wheel for the garnish.

No Crème de Mûre? No Problem

Admittedly, crème de mûre is not the easiest liqueur to find, though it is not impossible. If you're having no luck, there are a few options available.

• Blackberry Brandy: Many fruit-flavored brandies made today have some amount of sugar added to them, which makes them more of a liqueur than a true brandy. That is actually quite convenient because it makes blackberry brandy a viable substitution for the Bramble's crème de mûre.
• Black Raspberry Liqueur: Blackberries and black raspberries have a very similar flavor as do the liqueurs made from the fruits. This means that you can get away with using a black raspberry liqueur like the popular Chambord when making the Bramble.