Bramble Cocktail Recipe
This easy bramble cocktail recipe is the perfect balance of refreshing and sweet. Just add blackberry brandy, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and get ready for perfect happy hours on the patio.
Servings 2 cocktails
Calories 175kcal
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.4 ounces gin, 2 ounces lemon juice, 1 ounce 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 3/4 ounce of blackberry brandy to each glass and add a lemon wheel to each drink.1.5 ounce blackberry brandy, 2 thin lemon wheels
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
Tips for making the bramble:
- 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. Even though this berry recipe takes less than 5 minutes, if you build it in the glass, it will melt the ice quickly.
- 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.
- If you can't find blackberry brandy, you can use crème de mûre, which is a liqueur made with blackberries. Or even cassis - which is a dark red liqueur made from blackcurrants.
- Another option instead of the brandy is using a black raspberry liqueur, like Chambord. It will change the taste somewhat.
- If you haven't had blackberry brandy, you're in for a treat. It is made from black raspberries and is a little sweet.
- 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.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 29mg | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin C: 11mg | Iron: 0.5mg