Shake the citrus base, strain, top with Champagne, and stir gently
French 75
Cold gin, bright lemon, and a long lift of fine Champagne bubbles.
Shake, strain over crushed ice, then lace with liqueur
Bramble
This modern classic builds contrast: a pale shaken sour first, then a vivid berry ribbon and fresh fruit finish.
Edited by CocktailSteps Editorial Team
- Time
- 6 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Approx. ABV
- 18% · Medium
- Tradition
- British
- Profile
- Sweet · Sour · Citrus
Ingredient totals
Ingredients
Amounts below make one drink. The method, Quick Check, and guided Make use these one-glass amounts.
1.67 ozGinRecommended brandBeefeater London Dry Gin
0.83 ozFresh lemon juiceRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
0.42 ozSimple syrupRecipe specification1:1 white sugar to water, by weight
Stir 100 g white sugar with 100 g warm water until no crystals remain, then cool before measuring into the drink. Use a scale: equal cups of sugar and water give a different concentration. A richer 2:1 syrup or a concentrated bottled cane syrup needs a smaller measure, not an equal-volume swap; check the bottle’s specification.
0.5 ozCrème de mûreRecommended brandGiffard Crème de Mûre
1 sliceLemon sliceOptionalRecommended brandSunkist Lemon
2 piecesBlackberriesOptionalRecommended brandDriscoll’s Blackberries
Measured method · one drink
How to make Bramble
These steps make one glass. For more drinks, use the ingredient totals above to set up, then repeat this method for each serving.
- 01
Measure the sour
1⅔ oz gin · ⅚ oz lemon · ⅖ oz syrup
Add 1⅔ oz gin, ⅚ oz fresh lemon juice, and ⅖ oz simple syrup to an ice-filled shaker.
Measure the sour visual check - 02
Shake the sour
Shake · 12 sec
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 12 seconds until frosty.
Shake the sour visual check - 03
Strain over crushed ice
Fine strain · crushed ice
Pack a chilled rocks glass with crushed ice, then fine-strain the pale gin sour over it.
Strain over crushed ice visual check - 04
Lace with blackberry
½ oz crème de mûre
Pour ½ oz crème de mûre slowly in a circle over the crushed ice so it ribbons through the pale sour.
Lace with blackberry visual check - 05
Finish with fruit
1 lemon slice · 2 blackberries
Set 1 lemon slice and 2 blackberries on top of the crushed ice without disturbing the berry ribbons.
Finish with fruit visual check
Seal the shaker and shake hard for 12 seconds until frosty.
AI-assisted illustration of one step. Follow the measured method above; sound is optional.Key move
Add the crème de mûre last so the dark ribbons remain visible
Technique note
Why this build works
The Bramble begins as a pale gin sour; blackberry liqueur is poured over the crushed ice only after the sour has been shaken and strained. This keeps its aroma and color distinct as it slowly runs through the drink. Simple syrup sweetens the citrus base, but crème de mûre adds sweetness too. Judge the finished combination rather than sweetening the sour as if the berry liqueur were absent.
Common failure points
- The drink is uniformly purple with no blackberry ribbons.
- Leave crème de mûre out of the shaker. Pour the measured ½ ounce slowly in a circle over the fresh crushed-ice mound after adding the sour.
- A sweet berry pool sits below a thin, watery sour.
- Drain meltwater from the crushed ice and measure the liqueur instead of repeatedly topping up the color. The layered presentation evolves as it mixes; give a gentle stir for a more even sip if preferred.
Measure or substitute
For easier small measures, use 50 ml gin, 25 ml lemon, 12.5 ml 1:1 simple syrup, and 15 ml crème de mûre. Crème de cassis gives a blackcurrant variation at the same starting measure; blackberry jam changes sugar, seeds, and texture and is not a direct swap.
Recipe references
These references describe the drink or its ingredients. Our measured build and teaching notes are CocktailSteps adaptations; proportions and methods may differ from the reference.
Set the station
Tools
JiggerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom Japanese Style Jigger
Cocktail shakerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom KORIKO Shaking Tins
Fine strainerRecommended brandCocktail Kingdom COCO Mesh Cone
Rocks glassRecommended brandRIEDEL Drink Specific Rocks Glass
Choose your bottle
Bottle buying guide
Best fit is our default. Spend less with Smart buy, or choose Upgrade when you want more character.
Gin
Crème de mûre
Know the pour
Medium
Gin and blackberry liqueur are opened by citrus and crushed-ice dilution.
Contains alcohol. Serve only to adults of legal drinking age and enjoy responsibly.
