This cocktail comes by way of Fred’s Club in Soho, London, where famed bartender Dick Bradsell created it in the mid 1980’s.  It’s not as old as the many historical cocktails I seem to be fond of featuring, but it is a modern classic and very well known.  This is likely due to its simplicity, delicious-ness and perfect name: the Bramble.

The "Ramble" adapted from Dick Bradsell

Bradsell was a cocktail hero of his time, so that probably didn’t hurt either.  Simply combine gin, lemon, and sugar over crushed ice, then drizzle blackberry liqueur over it all and garnish with more blackberries.  Yum!  Of course, I’m at the beach right now, and only had crème de cassis on hand rather than the technically required crème de mure, so this isn’t quit a Bramble – more of a ramble, I’d say.  Nevermind, it’s just as delicious.  Now, back to this perfect puzzle box.  Cheers!

As Wil Strijbos likes to say, "Take your time". Cheers!

The “Ramble”: (for a true Bramble use crème de mure)

1.5 oz gin

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

¾ oz crème de cassis

Shake the first three ingredients with ice or just add them to a glass of crushed ice and stir.  Pour the berry liqueur over the top. Garnish with lemon and berries.