Blackberries are one of the great signs that summer is drawing to a close. Their arrival along hedgerows and woodland edges signals the approach of autumn and the start of the harvest season.
For many people, blackberries evoke fond childhood memories. Days spent foraging with family and friends often came with scratched arms, stained fingers, and baskets filled with freshly picked fruit. The reward usually followed later in the kitchen, where the aroma of blackberry and apple crumble filled the house.
These memories inspired one of the world's most famous modern gin cocktails. The Bramble was created by legendary bartender Dick Bradsell during the 1980s at Fred's Club in London.
Bradsell wanted to create a cocktail that captured the flavours and nostalgia of blackberry picking in the British countryside. The result was a simple yet elegant combination of gin, lemon, sugar, and blackberry liqueur.
Today, the Bramble remains a contemporary classic. Its balance of bright citrus, fresh fruit, and botanical gin continues to celebrate the simple pleasures of late summer and early autumn.
Ease of Making: Easy.
Glass Type: Rocks Glass or Old Fashioned.
Taste: Autumnal with citrus bringing the bright notes.
Garnish: Fresh Blackberries and slice of lemon.
Recipe:
- 50ml Explorer’s gin.
- 25ml Lemon juice.
- 15ml Simple syrup.
- 30ml Crème de Mure (Blackberry).
- Fresh blackberries.
Method:
- Place the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker.
- Fill with ice and vigorously shake.
- Place crushed ice (important) into your glass.
- Strain your cocktail into your glass.
- Add more crushed ice so it mounds over the edges.
- Slowly pour your blackberry liqueur over the ice to bleed it into your drink.
- Garnish with a fresh blackberry and lemon slice (optional).
Variations:
- Use Chambord (Raspberry).
- Use Crème de cassis (Blackcurrant).
- For non-alcoholic variation replace gin with Seedlip and crème de mure with Ribena!
- Fresh blackberries can also be crushed into the glass before adding the ice.
