The Bramble: A Modern Classic with Wild Roots
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Author:
Jenny Oddlien Lang bartends at Dispensary Whisk(e)y and Beer and dabbles in writing on the side. She likes classic cocktails and fresh conversations across the bar.
In the ever-evolving landscape of cocktails, few modern inventions have earned the reverence of the Bramble. Invented in the mid-1980s, it’s a drink that bridges old-school craft with fresh, natural flair. With its delicate balance of tart berries and botanical gin, the Bramble is a toast to both nature and nostalgia.
The Birth of the Bramble
The Bramble was created by legendary London bartender Dick Bradsell in 1984. Inspired by memories of blackberry-picking on the Isle of Wight, Bradsell aimed to bottle the essence of an English countryside summer by creating something refreshing, grounded, and subtly wild. At a time when cocktail menus were heavy on vodka and light on flavor, the Bramble brought something bold and distinctly British to the glass.
The beauty of the Bramble lies in its simplicity and structure. It’s built in the glass and each layer adds something vital. It is unfussy, but elegant.
Beyond technique, it’s the feeling that makes the Bramble unforgettable: a cold sip on a warm day, the sharp burst of berries, the soft edge of gin botanicals. It feels at once contemporary and timeless.
While any good London Dry gin will work, we recommend using the Tyler’s Original City of London Dry Gin for your Bramble. It brings just the right balance of juniper and citrus to let the French blackberry liqueur shine, and it’s available right here on our webshop.
Ingredients:
- 50 ml Tyler’s Original City of London Dry Gin
- 25 ml fresh lemon juice
- 12.5 ml simple syrup or 6.5 ml Shoppens Rich Gomme Syrup
- 12.5 ml Crème de Mûre (blackberry liqueur)
- Fresh blackberries and a lemon slice, for garnish
Method:
- Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.
- Shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice and strain into the glass.
- Drizzle the Crème de Mûre over the top. It will bleed slowly through the ice like blackberry juice on snow.
- Garnish with a fresh blackberry and a slice of lemon.
- Sip, savor, and enjoy!