The Bramble Cocktail

Written by
Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the food-writing world.
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Colleen Graham
Updated 10/21/20
The bramble cocktail

Kristine T Pham Photography/Moment Open/Getty Images
  • Total: 3 mins
  • Prep: 3 mins
  • Cook: 0 mins
  • Serving: 1 serving
  • Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
265 Calories
0g Fat
32g Carbs
1g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 265
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 17mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Protein 1g
Calcium 28mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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.

The featured ingredient of this enhanced gin sour is the crème de mûre, a sweet blackberry liqueur. It is not a standard bar ingredient, though it is nice to have around for drinks such as this, and there are simple substitutions available. If you have access to a good crop of blackberries, you can even make your own. It's as easy as using the berries in a standard homemade liqueur recipe.

The bramble should not be confused with the Bramble Bar, a drink made of scotch, apple juice, and elderflower. Both make fantastic summertime drinks, and they're rather nice to serve together.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice (fresh)
  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup
  • 3/4 ounce crème de mûre
  • Garnish: lime wheel
  • Garnish: 2 raspberries

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the gin, lime juice, and simple syrup.

  3. Shake well.

  4. Strain over crushed ice in a highball glass.

  5. Drizzle the cremé de mûre on top and garnish with a lime slice and two raspberries.

Tips

  • The bramble may have a short history, but it has also been adapted many times. Some recipes suggest a London dry gin while others opt for the fruitier Plymouth Gin. Either is a good choice, so explore your options. You may even want to try Brockmans Gin, which includes blackberries and blueberries.
  • You will also find recipes that use either lemon or lime juice. If you switch to lemon juice, use a lemon wheel for the garnish.
  • No matter which citrus juice you go with, use fresh-squeezed and adjust it to your taste. One lime or half a lemon should be enough for a single drink.

What's a Good Substitute for Crème de Mûre?

Admittedly, crème de mûre is not the easiest liqueur to find, though it is not impossible. If you're not having any luck, there are a couple of substitutes:

  • Blackberry Brandy: Many of today's fruit-flavored brandies include sugar, making them more of a liqueur than a true brandy. That's 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 two fruits. That means you can get away with using a black raspberry liqueur such as the popular Chambord.

How Strong Is a Bramble Cocktail?

The bramble is neither the strongest nor the weakest cocktail you can mix up. Its average alcohol content is 17 percent ABV (34 proof), so it's just a little stronger than a gin and tonic.

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