The Bramble Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/12/21
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
The Bramble Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
214 Calories
0g Fat
27g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 214
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 3mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 27mg 137%
Calcium 27mg 2%
Iron 0mg 3%
Potassium 103mg 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.

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"The bramble is genuinely in a class by itself. It's one of the most crowd-pleasing cocktails I know, for both cocktail novices and aficionados alike. Crushed ice is important. Don't go too heavy on the crème de mûre; I usually only use about 1/4 ounce and bump up the gin to 2 ounces." —Tom Macy

The Bramble Cocktail Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces gin

  • 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 3/4 ounce simple syrup

  • 1/2 to 3/4 ounce crème de mûre liqueur

  • Lime wheel, for garnish

  • 2 raspberries or blackberries, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    The Bramble Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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

    gin, lime juice, and simple syrup in shot glasses and ice in a cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Shake well.

    cocktail shaker

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Strain over crushed ice in a highball glass.

    gin, lime juice, and simple syrup mixture poured over crushed ice

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Drizzle the cremé de mûre on top.

    cremé de mûre poured on top of ice and the gin mixture

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Garnish with a lime slice and 2 raspberries or blackberries. Serve and enjoy.

    The Bramble Cocktail garnished with raspberries and lime

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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.