This bramble cocktail recipe is scrumptious! The blackberry brandy nicely complements the gin and lemon, which makes it refreshing and the perfect cocktail to sip on your patio or veranda. (Or even at your kitchen table.)

This bramble recipe is fun and results in the perfect sipping cocktail! I love how refreshing it is. The lemon and crushed ice make you want to smack your lips after every sip. And once you do take a sip, that’s when the gin and blackberry brandy say hello to your taste buds.
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Helpful tips
- Because this cocktail is served with crushed ice, I prefer to mix the ingredients in a shaker and pour them over the ice, rather than mixing them in the glass with the ice; I personally find crushed ice messy to work with. Mine always falls out of the glass
- Since the blackberry brandy is added after the main pour, it’s fun to serve it to your guests in a side car (a separate shot glass), so they can pour it over the crushed ice themselves, satisfying their inner mixologist
- Although I typically advocate using the best liquor you can afford in your cocktails, especially in cocktails that are basically alcohol like the martini or Manhattan, when mixing the bramble, it’s fine to use a mid-level gin, like Bombay Sapphire
- Start with a sour to sweet ratio of 2:1 and if that’s not sweet enough for you, add simple syrup to get closer to a ratio of 1:1
How to make the bramble cocktail recipe
Pre-step
Get a cocktail shaker, fill it halfway with ice and take out a measuring glass and your glassware. After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the shaker.
Cut two thin lemon wheels for garnish. I chose not to use fresh blackberries in this cocktail because they weren’t in season and didn’t want to pay $6.00 for less than a pint of the fruit. But fresh blackberries are an awesome garnish in this cocktail.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – Gin, blackberry brandy, lemon and simple syrup.
Step two
Measure four ounces of gin.
Step three
Measure 2 ounces of fresh lemon juice (almost a whole lemon, which yields about two ounces of juice).
I always make my own simple syrup and you should too. It’s easy and less expensive than buying premade.
How to make simple syrup
- Place 1 cup water and 1 cup white sugar in a sauce pan.
- Turn heat on medium and bring to a boil.
- Lower to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes until all the sugar granules have melted.
- Cool and pour into a storage jar or bottle. Many years ago I bought a bottle of pre-made simple syrup and I reuse it over and over.
Step four
Measure 1 ounce simple syrup.
Step five
Heap the glasses with crushed ice. Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain the bramble cocktail recipe into the glasses.
Measure ¾ ounce of blackberry brandy PER cocktail.
Step six
Pour the blackberry brandy over the ice and place a lemon wheel in each glass.
Let’s see how different the bramble looks in the thinner, taller rocks glass.
I hope you enjoyed this bramble cocktail recipe.
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Bramble Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ounces gin
- 2 ounces lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1.5 ounce blackberry brandy (divided)
Garnish
- 2 thin lemon wheels
Instructions
- Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice
- Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup
- Heap crushed ice in the glasses
- Cap the shaker and shake for 15 seconds and divide and strain the bramble cocktail between the two glasses
- Add ¾ ounce of blackberry brandy to each glass and add a lemon wheel to each drink
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
- Because this cocktail is served with crushed ice, I prefer to mix the ingredients in a shaker and pour them over the ice, rather than mixing them in the glass with the ice; I personally find crushed ice messy to work with. Mine always falls out of the glass
- Since the blackberry brandy is added after the main pour, it’s fun to serve it to your guests in a side car (a separate shot glass), so they can pour it over the crushed ice themselves, satisfying their inner mixologist
- Although I typically advocate using the best liquor you can afford in your cocktails, especially in cocktails that are basically alcohol like the martini or Manhattan, when mixing the bramble, it’s fine to use a mid-level gin, like Bombay Sapphire
- Start with a sour to sweet ratio of 2:1 and if that’s not sweet enough for you, add simple syrup to get closer to a ratio of 1:1
- Place 1 cup water and 1 cup white sugar in a sauce pan.
- Turn heat on medium and bring to a boil.
- Lower to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes until all the sugar granules have melted.
- Cool and pour into a storage jar or bottle. Many years ago I bought a bottle of pre-made simple syrup and I reuse it over and over.
Adrianne
Yes please, how great does this cocktail look!! Wow, I am loving it. Weekend sunset drinks, here I come!! Cheers
Elaine
Hehe. Cheers, Adrianne!
Sara Welch
Love a cool and refreshing cocktail with a kick! I will have to give this a try!
Elaine
Thanks Sara!
Tilly
Blackberry and lemon is such a good combination and I just love the colour of this cocktail!
Elaine
Thank you Tilly! And I agree, it goes so well together!
Rosa
Ohh this sounds really good. I’ll be giving this a try this weekend!
Elaine
Yay! Thanks Rosa. I hope you enjoy the drink! Cheers!
Suzy
Going to make these again for a party this weekend. Can’t wait to share this recipe with my friends!
Elaine
Thanks Suzy. I hope you enjoy it!