Bourbon Bramble Recipe

Make purée

Place 4 fresh blackberries and 0.25 oz simple syrup in a small bowl or shaker tin. Muddle thoroughly until berries are broken down into a coarse purée. If you prefer a smoother texture, press the purée through a fine-mesh strainer into a small container to remove seeds. Set aside.

Combine ingredients

In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz bourbon, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz simple syrup, and the blackberry purée (if using). If not using purée, add an extra 0.25 oz simple syrup and a few crushed blackberries directly to the shaker or omit and rely on the liqueur for fruit flavor.

Shake

Fill the shaker with ice, cap, and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds until the shaker is cold to the touch and ingredients are well-chilled and combined.

Prepare glass

Fill an old-fashioned glass or rocks glass about three-quarters full with crushed ice.

Strain & layer

Double-strain the shaken bourbon mixture (to catch seeds/pulp if you used purée) over the crushed ice. Gently pour 0.5 oz blackberry liqueur (creme de mûre) over the top — it will sink slightly and create a bramble-like streaked appearance. If you prefer a stronger blackberry presence, swirl gently to incorporate.

Garnish

Garnish with 2–3 fresh blackberries, a lemon wheel on the rim, and a sprig of mint. Serve with a short stirring straw so the drink can be mixed at the table if desired.

Serve immediately while the crushed ice is cold. Adjust sweetness by increasing or decreasing simple syrup by 0.25 oz increments. For a more herbaceous variation, muddle a few mint leaves in the shaker before adding ice (optional).