The exact origin story of how the Bramble cocktail recipe was invented is often credited to a conversation between Dick Bradsell and a customer who requested a “special” drink at Fred’s Club in London. The customer was described as a blackberry picker, and Bradsell wanted to create a cocktail that embodied the essence of blackberries. Inspired by this conversation, he went on to develop the Bramble.
Its refreshing and fruity nature characterises the Bramble. It typically consists of gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and blackberry liqueur. Traditionally, bartenders serve the cocktail over crushed ice in an old-fashioned glass. They usually float the blackberry liqueur on top and garnish it with fresh blackberries or a lemon wheel.
The Bramble gained popularity in the UK and eventually spread to cocktail bars around the world. As the craft cocktail movement gained momentum, it became particularly popular during the 1990s. The cocktail’s appeal lies in its balance of tartness from the lemon juice, sweetness from the sugar syrup, and the rich fruitiness of the blackberry liqueur.
Over time, variations of the Bramble have emerged, with bartenders experimenting with different spirits and fruit liqueurs to create their own twists on the original Bramble cocktail recipe. Some variations replace gin with vodka or rum, while others introduce additional ingredients such as elderflower liqueur or muddled fresh berries
Today, the Bramble remains a classic and beloved cocktail, enjoyed by cocktail enthusiasts and gin lovers alike. Its vibrant appearance, complex flavours, and refreshing qualities continue to make it a popular choice in bars worldwide.
Muckross Wild Irish Bramble Ingredients
- 60 ml Muckross Wild Irish Gin
- 30 ml fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml sugar syrup
- 15 ml blackberry liqueur (such as Crème de Mûre)
- Crushed ice
- Fresh blackberries and/or lemon wheel, for garnish
- 2 oz Muckross Wild Irish Gin
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz sugar syrup
- 0.5 oz blackberry liqueur (such as Crème de Mûre)
- Crushed ice
- Fresh blackberries and/or lemon wheel, for garnish
- 2 shots Muckross Wild Irish Gin
- 1 shot fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 shot sugar syrup
- 0.5 shot blackberry liqueur (such as Crème de Mûre)
- Crushed ice
- Fresh blackberries and/or lemon wheel, for garnish
- 6 cl Muckross Wild Irish Gin
- 3 cl fresh lemon juice
- 1.5 cl sugar syrup
- 1.5 cl blackberry liqueur (such as Crème de Mûre)
- Crushed ice
- Fresh blackberries and/or lemon wheel, for garnish
How to make this Cocktail
- Fill a Muckross Wild Irish Gin glass (old-fashioned glass or rocks glass) with crushed ice.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine Muckross Wild Irish Gin, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and sugar syrup.
- Fill the shaker with ice cubes and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture over the crushed ice in the glass.
- Using a spoon, gently float the blackberry liqueur on top of the drink.
- Garnish with fresh blackberries (we like to pick fresh in season) and/or a lemon wheel.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tip
Remember to adjust the proportions according to your taste preferences and the size of your glass.
Sláinte is táinte!
