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Wild Berri Bramble: Wild Berry Bramble — Drinks recipe | AfoodrinkDrinks

Wild Berri Bramble

This wild berry bramble is a bright gin cocktail with lemon, crushed ice, and a slow drizzle of blackberry liqueur. It looks dramatic in the glass, but the method is simple and friendly for a home bar.

Total time
10 min
Yield
1 cocktail
Difficulty
Easy

Prep 10mCook 0mBritishDrinks

The bramble is a modern classic cocktail from London, usually made with gin, lemon, sugar, and blackberry liqueur. This version leans into mixed wild berries for extra color and a fresh, jammy flavor.

You do not need special bar skills to make it. A muddler is helpful, but the handle of a wooden spoon works too. Muddling means gently pressing fruit to release its juice, not smashing it into a paste.

Serve it over crushed ice so the drink stays cold and lightly diluted as you sip. The blackberry liqueur is drizzled at the end, giving the cocktail its signature berry “bramble” streaks.

01What you'll need

Ingredients

8 items · 1 cocktail

  • 1/4 cup (35 g) mixed wild berries, fresh or thawed frozen
  • 2 ounces London dry gin
  • 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 ounce wild berry syrup or blackberry syrup
  • 1/2 ounce crème de mûre or blackberry liqueur
  • 1 cup crushed ice, plus more if needed
  • 1 small lemon wheel
  • 1 small mint sprig

02How to make it

Step-by-step

  1. 1. Chill the glass

    Set a rocks glass in the freezer for 5 minutes, or fill it with ice water while you prep the drink. A cold glass helps the crushed ice last longer.

  2. 2. Muddle the berries

    Add the mixed berries to a cocktail shaker. Gently press them with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon until they release juice. Stop before the berries become a thick paste.

  3. 3. Add the sour mix-ins

    Pour in the gin, fresh lemon juice, and wild berry syrup. Fresh lemon is important here because bottled lemon juice can taste flat or harsh in a simple cocktail.

  4. 4. Shake until cold

    Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Seal it tightly and shake for 10 to 15 seconds, until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.

  5. 5. Pack the glass

    Discard the ice water if you used it to chill the glass. Fill the glass with crushed ice, mounding it slightly over the top.

  6. 6. Strain and drizzle

    Strain the shaken drink over the crushed ice. Slowly drizzle the crème de mûre over the top so it trickles through the ice and creates dark berry streaks.

  7. 7. Garnish and serve

    Add the lemon wheel and mint sprig. Serve right away with a short straw or stir stick so the drink can be mixed as it melts.

03From our kitchen

Cook's tips

  • Make-ahead: Juice the lemon and wash the berries up to 1 day ahead. Keep them covered in the refrigerator. Shake the cocktail only when you are ready to serve.
  • Storage: This drink is best fresh. If you need to hold it for a short time, mix the gin, lemon juice, syrup, and muddled berries without ice and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Shake with ice and add the liqueur just before serving.
  • Berry swaps: Blackberries give the most classic bramble flavor, but raspberries, blueberries, marionberries, or a frozen mixed berry blend all work. Thaw frozen berries first so they muddle easily.
  • Sweetness control: If your berry syrup is very sweet, start with 1/2 ounce, taste after shaking, and add more if needed. If the drink tastes too sharp, a small extra splash of syrup will soften it.
  • No crushed ice: Put regular ice cubes in a clean towel and tap them with a rolling pin, or pulse briefly in a blender. The pieces do not need to be perfectly even.
  • Liqueur substitute: If you do not have crème de mûre, use blackberry brandy, crème de cassis, or an extra 1/2 ounce berry syrup for a less boozy finish.

Cook's note

Nutrition is an estimate per cocktail using 80-proof gin, fresh lemon juice, mixed berries, standard berry syrup, and blackberry liqueur. Actual values will vary by brand, especially for syrup and liqueur.

04Frequently asked

Questions & answers

What is a bramble cocktail?

A bramble is a gin drink made with lemon, sweetener, and blackberry liqueur. It is usually served over crushed ice, with the dark berry liqueur drizzled through the top.

Can I make a wild berry bramble without alcohol?

Yes. Replace the gin with a nonalcoholic gin alternative or chilled tonic water, and replace the blackberry liqueur with berry syrup. The flavor will be sweeter and lighter, but it will still have the berry-lemon profile.

Do I have to strain out the berry seeds?

Straining makes the drink smoother, especially if you use raspberries or blackberries. If you like a rustic texture, you can pour everything into the glass without fine-straining.

Can I use bottled lemon juice?

Fresh lemon juice is strongly recommended. This cocktail has only a few ingredients, so the lemon flavor stands out. Bottled juice can make the drink taste dull or overly sour.

Why is my drink watery?

Crushed ice melts quickly. Make sure the glass is cold, shake the drink briefly, and serve it right away. If your berries were thawed from frozen, drain off excess liquid before muddling.

05Per serving

Nutrition facts

Nutrition Facts

1 cocktail

Amount per serving

Calories230

% Daily Value*

Total Fat0 g
0%
Saturated Fat0 g
0%
Cholesterol0 mg
0%
Sodium4 mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate20 g
7%
Dietary Fiber2 g
7%
Total Sugars16 g
Protein1 g
2%
Vitamin D0 mcg
0%
Calcium14 mg
1%
Iron0.3 mg
2%
Potassium96 mg
2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

05Keep cooking

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