The cocktail notebook · Gin
Bramble
Gin and lemon with a blackberry finish. A liqueur-finished sour made by shake and strain.
- Base
- gin
- Method
- Shake & Strain
- Glass
- Old fashioned glass
- Yield
- One drink
Recipe reference: IBA reference recipe. House specifies syrup at 1:1 by mass and an optional garnish count.
Bramble recipe
1 serving · IBA reference recipeMillilitres control this recipe. US fluid ounces are rounded to the nearest quarter ounce for convenience and are not a different recipe ratio. Dashes, spoons, leaves and other non-liquid measures are listed as written.
| Measure | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 50 ml≈ 1.75 US fl oz | gin |
| 25 ml≈ 0.75 US fl oz | fresh lemon juice |
| 12.5 ml≈ 0.5 US fl oz | simple syrup, 1:1 by mass |
| 15 ml≈ 0.5 US fl oz | crème de mûre blackberry liqueur |
Ice: Crushed serving ice; shaking ice separately. Garnish: 1 lemon slice and 2 blackberries, optional house count.
Learning bar service? Continue with the Bramble in module 4 of the free course →
How to make it
- Chill the serving glass and fill it with crushed ice.
- Shake gin, lemon and syrup with separate shaking ice.
- Strain over the crushed service ice.
- Pour blackberry liqueur in a circular finish over the top; add optional garnish.
Why it works: The liqueur is added after shaking. Crushed ice and the finishing pour create the intended service presentation.
Common mistakes, useful fixes
Uniform purple base
keep liqueur out of the shaker.
Too diluted
prepare promptly with cold ingredients.
Wrong berry liqueur
mûre is blackberry, not cassis.
Serving the guest
What to tell the guest
Gin and lemon with a blackberry finish. The liqueur is added after shaking. Crushed ice and the finishing pour create the intended service presentation.
Dietary and product checks
Check exact products, declared allergens and cross-contact controls before service.
Variations
- Any adaptation needs a recorded recipe and an honest description. Explain the difference and offer a clearly named tested variation.
Where does the Bramble come from?
Origin: London, England; Dick Bradsell describes creating it in the 1980s. (Creator account)
In his own account, Dick Bradsell connects the Bramble with Fred’s Club in Soho and with blackberry memories. The drink is a useful example of a modern recipe becoming widely recognised. Use the creator account for the story and the separately identified IBA specification for these quantities.
Bramble questions
Which ingredient is excluded from shaking?
Crème de mûre, added as the finishing pour.
What preparation detail matters for this order?
The liqueur is added after shaking. Crushed ice and the finishing pour create the intended service presentation.
From a recipe to a repeatable skill
Learn the method behind the order.
Bramble is a required study in Essential Cocktails & Bar Foundations, module 4: Fresh ingredients and finishing. Control crushed ice and a finishing liqueur rather than treating it as a garnish.
The course is free. An optional paid certificate tests knowledge in an online exam; it is not an observed practical assessment or an accredited bartending qualification.