Bramble Cocktail Recipe

Bramble Cocktail Ingredients

50ml Gin
25ml Fresh Lemon Juice
10ml Sugar Syrup
10ml Blackberry Liqueur

How to make a Bramble Cocktail

Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.

Add all ingredients (except the liqueur) and stir vigorously to combine all the ingredients.

Top up with crushed ice so there is a nice crown on the top.

Lace the liqueur over the top and add the garnished blackberries on a cocktail stick.

Garnish: 3 Blackberries

Tell us About The Bramble Cocktail Recipe

It’s often common for the origins of classic cocktails to be disputed. Not so with this British modern classic, created by bartender Dick Bradsell at the Soho Brasserie in 1984.

Of all his creations (including the iconic Espresso Martini) the Bramble is said to be Bradsell’s favourite.

The drink is said to be inspired by the British pastime of brambling – picking blackberries and other fruit in the Autumn.

Bradsell took his memories of childhood holidays on the Isle of Wight and turned them into a cocktail classic.

Bradsell was a mainstay of the London bar scene in the 1980s, working at esteemed venues such as the Zanzibar club and Groucho.

It was there that he trained up new bartenders to an exact set of standards. In an era where premixed juices were common, Bradsell insisted on using fresh lemon juice.

You can see then why the Bramble is an essential Bradsell creation, with the sharpness of the lemon balancing the sweet Blackberry liqueur.

Bradsell himself noted that the success of the drink is due to its simplicity.

The crushed ice is absolutely key as it allows the liqueur to slowly infuse through into the rest of the drink.

However, it’s interesting to think what might have been.

In an interview with Difford’s Guide Bradsell notes that the only reason the drink contained crushed ice was because it was all the machine they were using at the time could make.

It’s one to make as the summer comes to an end and Autumn harvest beckons.

Bramble Royale

One great way to enhance the drink is to make a Bramble Royale.

Follow the steps above but add a top of Champagne or sparkling wine to the top.