Bramble cocktail: history, ingredients, recipe

Everyone loves berry smoothies for their versatility. Imagine that guests have come to you and you are treating them to a drink based on fresh berries and elite alcohol. It is difficult to resist such an offer, so I could not resist the desire to tell you about the recipe for one of the most popular cocktails of the modern era – Bramble.

Bramble is a kind of drink based on blackberry liqueur, gin and lemon juice. The addition of sugar syrup softens the dominance of sour ingredients, making Bramble very balanced.

Historical background

The famous London bartender Dick Bradsell came up with the recipe for making Bramble in 1984. Although the word “invented” is misleading, the prototype of the drink existed long before the date indicated, but did not have its own name and consisted of raspberry syrup, lemon juice and Dutch gin. The author did not bother with the name, calling it simply – blackberry (translation of the word bramble).

I guess Bradsell saw a certain similarity between raspberries and blackberries, and decided to do a little experiment with the replacement of ingredients. It’s hard to say how it really was, but the new drink was so successful that Bramble entered the list of official cocktails of the International Bartenders Association (IBA)

The strength of the bramble cocktail

I classify Bramble as a medium-strength cocktail, but the final alcohol content depends on the proportions of the ingredients indicated in the recipe. I can say that the proportion of alcohol in the drink does not exceed 22%, but most often it is 2-4% lower.

The main role is played by the type and volume of the gin. Its strength can reach 60%, but I recommend taking options with a lower alcohol content (37-47%). The original uses dry London gin.

Food and energy value

Depending on the recipe, 1 serving of a Bramble contains between 170 and 230 calories. If translated into a more understandable language, then this is approximately 7-9% of the daily male norm or 12-15% of the female. I gave the average daily allowance figures, which do not necessarily apply to you.

How and with what to drink a Bramble cocktail

Since Bramble is a long, they drink it slowly, through a straw. As a snack, you can use blackberries, they also serve as a decoration. I’ll deviate a little from generally accepted norms and advise you to try sweet varieties of oranges or other citrus fruits.

Utensils for cooking

The bartender’s inventory is an important component of success in preparing any cocktail. For Bramble we need:

• shaker or bar spoon;
• strainer (if using a shaker);
• citrus press and knife;
• a glass of “Old fashion” or “Old fashion” (they are called differently).

Cocktail recipe Bramble

There are several options for preparing Bramble, but there are very few differences in them. Basically the proportions of the ingredients and small additions for decoration. I’ll tell you what I like the most. List of ingredients:

• blackberry liqueur – 1 part;
• dry gin – 10 parts;
• sugar syrup – 3 parts;
• lemon juice – 4 parts;
• ice.

For decoration:

• lemon peel – 1 g;
• blackberries – 10 g.

Preparation:

1. Let’s start by preparing the ingredients. Take a lemon and cut off the thin top layer of the skin from it. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon using a citrus press. If there is no press, we press in the old fashioned way – with our hands.
2. Fill the glass with crushed ice, pour in the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup. We mix. Alternatively, the ingredients can be mixed in a shaker with ice. Just do not forget to strain its contents through a strainer.
3. Add blackberry liqueur to the mixture in a circular motion and mix again.
4. Decorate the drink with blackberries and lemon zest.
5. We enjoy the result.

General recommendations

I will present them in the form of a small list.

1. If you want a smoother Bramble flavor, use a shaker with ice. Some of the ice will dissolve during mixing, making the cocktail less alcoholic and less acidic.
2. For a richer blackberry flavor, take a few more blackberries, crush them and add to the Bramble before decorating.
3. Let the cocktail sit for 2-3 minutes to melt some of the ice. This will dilute the acidity.

An interesting fact: a drink called “Bumble Coffee” is miraculously similar to Bramble not only in name. It does not contain alcohol, but contains syrup, citrus juice and ice.

Conclusion

Bramble or, if translated, Blackberry can be attributed to cocktails with their own character. Not everyone will like the pronounced sourness of the drink, but those who appreciate it will surely be delighted. Choosing blackberries as the main ingredient and using lemon juice may seem a bit odd, but the sugar syrup balances the flavor. Believe me, Bramble is worth cooking at least once in your life.

At the end, I would like to give a little parting word. If you’re just getting started with cocktails, don’t be afraid to experiment. The strictness of the set of ingredients reflected in the existing recipes only seems to be an indestructible truth. Add, for example, cognac or rum to Bramble, and you get a completely different drink that can become a hit of our time.

And don’t forget to ask your friends if they like this cocktail?