The Sipsmith Blog

How to Make the Perfect Bramble

in Mixology July 27, 2018
Sipsmith Gin Bramble Cocktail

Refreshing, berry-bright, and quick to make, the Bramble is one of our favourite cocktails to enjoy while the weather is toasty. Here’s everything you need to know to master the serve.

Considered a modern classic, the Bramble is a cocktail of beautiful simplicity. Invented by bartender Dick Bradsell—who’s often credited with single-handedly reviving London’s cocktail scene—in 1984, the drink is a summery, berry-led twist on a gin sour. While it’s relatively straightforward to make, there are a few tips every home bartender should know before giving the recipe a go.

The Truth is in the Ice

Using the right ice is essential if you want to make the perfect Bramble.

Part of what makes the Bramble such an ideal warm-weather serve is its proportion of ice: typically served in a chilled rocks glass, the cocktail, when made properly, features a whole mound of crushed ice that’s kissed with purple-hued crème de mûre (that’s blackberry liqueur, for the uninitiated).

The easiest way to ruin a good Bramble, then, is to use the wrong kind, or the wrong quantity, of ice: a few stray ice cubes popped from that tray in your freezer just won’t do. Instead, crushed ice—more than you think you’d need—is essential when making a perfect Bramble.

Luckily, crushed ice isn’t as difficult to procure as you might think—and you certainly don’t need a special machine to make it. Simply place freezer-cold ice cubes in a clean kitchen towel or canvas bag, secure it, and gently crush with a wooden mallet or other blunt kitchen utensil. Just be sure to perform this operation right before you need the ice: in this hot weather, you don’t want it melting before it even reaches the glass. 

Fresh is Best 

One piece of bartending practice that obsessed Dick Bradsell—and which he passed onto ensuing generations of London bartenders? The importance of using freshly squeezed citrus juice in cocktails.

Because the Bramble features a large proportion of lemon juice, it’s essential to buy fresh fruit rather than pre-bottled juice. Not only is the pre-batched stuff typically loaded with additives, but it lacks the fragrance and delicacy of the real thing. Citrus juice begins to degrade and lose its complex flavor only a short amount of time after squeezing, so it’s best to do so just prior to mixing your drink. You may wish to use a Mexican elbow-style juicer for added convenience. 

Consider Creative Alternatives

Bramble

Get creative with your Bramble—why not trade crème de mûre for Sipsmith Sloe Gin?

True, Bradsell’s inspiration for this modern classic came from his childhood on the Isle of Wight, and the fresh blackberries he remembered picking there in the summer. But for an extra ginful twist on the Bramble, you can’t go wrong by swapping out the crème de mûre for our sloe gin. 

The Perfect Bramble

25ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

12.5ml sugar syrup

50ml Sipsmith London Dry Gin

15ml crème de mûre (or Sipsmith Sloe Gin)

Lemon twist and a blackberry, to garnish

Add the lemon juice, sugar syrup, and gin to a rocks glass, and stir briefly to combine. Fill the glass all the way up to the top with crushed ice. Gently pour the crème de mûre or sloe gin over the top, and garnish with a lemon twist and a blackberry.

Alternatively, watch our step-by-step video to learn how to make the perfect Bramble.

Feature images © RistoArnaudov/iStock; Alfa Studio/iStock

Are you sure?

Add a Gift Wrap Set

Gift Wrap Set

Gift wrapping service

Gift Wrap Service

Christmas gift wrap set

Seasonal Gift Wrap Service

Gift wrapping service

Seasonal Gift Wrap Service

Choose your gift box

Gift Box

We'll be sorry to see you go

We do hope you've enjoyed your ginny membership. Please help us to improve our Sipping Society Members' experience by letting us know why you've decided to cancel using the options below.

Welcome to the home of the quintessential London Dry Gin

To enter, please confirm that you are of legal drinking age in your country of residence:

Sipsmith encourages responsible drinking. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation. By entering this website, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Cookie Policy.