The Bramble Cocktail Recipe

Sometimes described as a short “Gin Sour” with a drizzle of Creme de Mure, a French blackberry liqueur over the top.

The Bramble cocktail, created in London in 1984 by renowned bartender Dick Bradsell, has become a modern classic of contemporary British mixology. Originating at Fred’s Club in Soho, Bradsell designed the drink to evoke quintessentially British flavours, inspired by childhood memories of picking blackberries on the Isle of Wight. Built on the foundation of a traditional gin sour with gin, lemon juice, and sugar, the Bramble is finished with a drizzle of crème de mûre, giving the cocktail its signature blackberry flavor and striking visual appeal as the deep purple liqueur flows through crushed ice.

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Its balance of simplicity, freshness, and visual elegance quickly made it a bar-industry favourite, spreading from London across Europe and ultimately worldwide.

The Bramble’s versatile, fruit-forward profile has inspired numerous variations, including the Winter Bramble, Bourbon Bramble, and Gin-less Bramble, allowing it to remain relevant in modern cocktail culture. Celebrated for its accessible sour structure and iconic presentation, the Bramble exemplifies how thoughtful innovation and cultural nostalgia can create a timeless, globally recognised cocktail.

The Bramble Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 ¾ of gin

• 1 oz of fresh lemon juice

• 1 tbsp. sugar syrup

• 1 tbsp. blackberry liqueur, such as Crème de mûre

• Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh blackberries

  
  

​Assembly

Add gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until well-chilled. Place crushed ice into a tumbler and pour over the shaken cocktail mixture. Drizzle the Crème de mûre over the top so that it ‘bleeds’ down into the glass. Garnish with your lemon slice and blackberries.