Blackberry Bramble Easter Cocktail

We don’t necessarily need a reason, but Easter sure seems like a good time to mix up a cocktail, doesn’t it?

This Blackberry Bramble Easter cocktail is so delicious, so pretty, so refreshing — I don’t know why you wouldn’t try it! It’s the perfect drink for spring and summer.

It’s also the latest in our series of gin cocktails and it’s a delicious new way to mix your gin. (If you love the Bee’s Knees this will be right up your alley).

More Gin Cocktails You’re Going to Love

Since we’re talking all things gin, after you try the Blackberry Bramble Easter cocktail check these out as well:

• Gin and Ginger Ale Cocktail Recipe
• Gin Rickey Cocktail Recipe
• Salty Dog Summer Cocktail Recipe
• How to Make a Bee’s Knees Cocktail
• Gin and Prosecco Cocktail
• French 75 Cocktail

And be sure to sign up below for my VIP group, where I’ll send more of my very best DIYs, recipes, and ideas straight to ya!

The History of the Blackberry Bramble

Unlike some of our other gin cocktails, the Blackberry Bramble dates back to just the mid-1980s – 1984 to be exact! While some gin cocktails (like the Rickey) are attributed to mixologists in the late 1800s, we don’t have to go so far back in the history books to learn about the Bramble!

Dick Brasdell first mixed this refreshing Easter cocktail in 1984 in London’s Soho neighborhood, at Fred’s Club. It quickly became a staple and a modern classic.

Something interesting to note is that in the 1980s, lots of mixologists began eliminating lots of fresh ingredients in their cocktails, in favor of substituting in mixers, liqueurs, and syrups.

So while the original Bramble cocktail used a blackberry liqueur for flavor, we’ve created our own take on it with fresh muddled blackberries instead. Brasdell’s original cocktail used crème de mûre (a blackberry liqueur).

We’ve mixed the Blackberry Bramble this way because we find that the average home bar isn’t stocked with such an obscure liqueur, and if you can substitute more common ingredients you’re more likely to try your hand at creating it!

What is a Bramble Cocktail?

The Blackberry Bramble was originally named for the bramble bushes where blackberries grew during Brasdell’s childhood on the Isle of Wigt. And of course, it was originally made with the blackberry liqueur.

However, the base of a bramble cocktail is basically a gin sour — gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. You can add to that any muddled fruit or liqueur that you like to spice up a bramble.

Another hallmark of a bramble cocktail is the refreshing crushed ice. While you can create the drink with other types of ice, the crushed ice helps tame the sweetness.

The dilution of the ice mellows the flavor, and also supports the liqueur if you choose to pour it on as a float over the ice in your cocktail.

How to Make Crushed Ice

If you don’t have easy access to crushed ice at home, there are a couple of quick ways to make it!

Blender. Toss some ice cubes in a blender on a low setting. Pulse the blender gently to get an even ice consistency. You may need to strain out any dust or particles that are too small.

Hammer. Place some ice cubes on a clean, dry towel. Fold the other half of the towel over the top of the cubes and gently crush them with some light taps from a hammer. Strain any particles that are too small.

Add your crushed ice to a rocks glass and make your drink.

Substitutions for this Easter Cocktail

Want to switch up your Easter cocktail? The Blackberry Bramble is a perfect cocktail to play with.

Substitute the alcohol. Try substituting a pisco for the gin. Pisco is a somewhat clear type of brandy, distilled from wine. It’s an easy way to try a new spirit and put your own twist on this Easter cocktail.

Substitute the fruit. If blackberries aren’t in season, try a different type of berry or even a stone fruit. Pomegranates, raspberries, peaches, and more are fun to experiment with.

Try it with or without the liqueur. Again, the original version of the Blackberry Bramble is served with a float of blackberry liqueur over the top. Here, we’ve muddled blackberries into the drink instead. Try it both ways to discover what you like the best.

Substitute a different liqueur. Try a float of a different liqueur to experiment with flavor. Chambord (raspberry liqueur), crème de cassis (often used to make Kir Royale cocktails), black currant cordial, or any number of other liqueurs or syrups would be a fun substitution for the crème de mûre.

When to Serve a Bramble Cocktail

While we’ll be serving it this year as an Easter cocktail, a Blackberry Bramble is a perfect cocktail for so many occasions!

The fresh, colorful, fruity nature of this drink make it perfect for spring and summer gatherings or celebrations. Serve your Blackberry Brambles for:

• Outdoor picnic cocktails
• Baby shower drinks
• Wedding shower drinks
• Wedding receptions (a lovely specialty cocktail!)
• Birthdays
• Spring parties
• Summer parties
• Happy hour drinks

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this easy version a Blackberry Bramble for your Easter cocktails, you’ll need just a few ingredients and tools. Check out our list below, and grab any tools that you might need from the links.

If you find that you’re experimenting more with cocktails, it’s a nice idea to stock your bar with the tools that make everything easy for really great drinks.

Ingredients

Gin. Start with a gin that you love. For this cocktail, I like to stay away from the gins that are heavy on the juniper flavor, and err more toward citrusy notes. You could also try to make your own gin like we did here!

Lemon juice. As always, fresh is best! Fresh lemon juice will make your Blackberry Bramble extra light and refreshing. And if you’re creating Easter cocktails, you should still be able to find nice fresh lemons (perhaps on the tree of a generous neighbor?).

Blackberries. Again, fresh fruit is the key to a Bramble that’s *chef’s kiss* delicious.

Simple syrup. Simple syrup is one thing to keep stocked if you’re planning on experimenting with at-home mixology! If you don’t have any on hand. you can make some yourself quickly and easily. In a saucepan, mix 1 part sugar and 1 part water. Heat until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved. Let cool. You’ve got simple syrup! Store in the refrigerator in an airtight bottle for up to four weeks.

Tools and Supplies

Cocktail shaker. A good cocktail shaker will help you create cocktails at home that make you feel like you’re at your favorite bar! They help not only to mix ingredients but to give them the perfect chill.

Fine mesh strainer. For this cocktail, it’s smart to use a fine mesh strainer rather than just the strainer on the lid of your cocktail shaker. The muddling of the berries produces pulp that you may not want in your cocktail.

Muddler. There are lots of different types of muddlers out there; I recommend a wooden one or stainless steel with a nylon head. Either of these options will successfully muddle your fruit without making a mess of your cocktail shaker.

How to Make a Blackberry Bramble Easter Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1/4 c fresh blackberries
• crushed ice
• extra blackberries for garnish

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine blackberries, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Muddle the fruit until it’s broken up and it releases juice and color into the mixture.
3. Fill a rocks glass with crushed ice.
4. Strain contents of the cocktail shaker over the ice. You may want to double strain the cocktail, meaning you would strain it once into an extra glass and strain again into the rocks glass over the ice.
5. Add blackberries and a lemon slice for garnish if desired.

More Ideas to Try

If you love this Easter cocktail, here are some more Easter ideas to go with it!

• Modern Gold Easter Egg Patterns
• Moroccan Painted Easter Eggs
• Make Bunny Pancakes for Easter!
• Pink Easter Rice Krispies Treats
• Easter Scavenger Hunt Ideas
• Make a Rainbow Easter Basket

Have fun! Be sure to give us a review below if you try out and love our recipe. xoxo

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