Black Currant Gin Bramble | A Creme De Cassis Cocktail
A delicious gin sour shaken to frothy perfection with a splash of black currant liqueur poured over the top.
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Here’s another perfect summer sipper recipe for you to try! I have been really into mixing creme de cassis into cocktails lately. Adding the flavor of black currants and the purple color to a drink makes it feel a little special!
WHAT’S IN A BRAMBLE COCKTAIL?
The Bramble is basically a variation on The Sour, one of the most useful cocktail recipes you should know. In my opinion, a good whiskey sour is one of the best cocktails of all time.
A Sour Cocktail is made up of 50ml or a scant 2 fl oz or just shy of ¼ cup of your favorite spirit (gin, vodka, bourbon, tequila, etc), one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (or you could also use lime juice) and a scant tablespoon of sugar syrup.
The only spin the Bramble offers on this winning formula is the addition of Crème de Cassis (black currant liqueur) and crushed ice. The Crème de Cassis is poured over a gin sour where it sinks into the drink creating a pretty effect.
HOW TO MAKE A BLACK CURRANT BRAMBLE COCKTAIL
STEP 1. Put the dry gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.
STEP 2. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass or a highball glass filled with crushed ice.
STEP 3. Pour a black currant liqueur, like creme de cassis liqueur over the top without mixing to create a bleeding effect.
STEP 4. Decorate with a lemon twist, sprig of mint, edible flowers, or seasonal berries.
Equipment Needed To Make A Black Currant Bramble Cocktail Recipe
To create a classic cocktail, having the right tools at your disposal can be super helpful. Although I believe all cocktail recipes should be accessible without needing special equipment! Here’s the equipment I recommend and the substitutions if you don’t have it!
- COCKTAIL SHAKER: Having a dependable cocktail shaker will help you mix your cocktail to perfection. If you don’t have one a large jar or mason jar will work just fine! Just be careful when shaking because it is glass after all.
- JIGGER: Achieving the perfect balance of flavors in any cocktail relies on accurate measurements. But a shot glass and/or measuring spoons can help you get your measurements for your cocktail
- CITRUS JUICER: Fresh lemon is essential for capturing the vibrant flavor of this drink. You can always just use a fork or your hands to juice your citrus – no big deal!
- GLASS: Selecting the right glassware is a fun part of choosing how to present your cocktail. But let’s be honest, the ingredients are the same regardless of what glass you choose to serve it in. 🙂
- GARNISH TOOLS: While completely optional, having tools for garnishing can help you add a refined finishing touch to your cocktail presentation. But we typically use a vegetable peeler. You can use a paring knife in a pinch, but avoid the white pith as it can impart a bitter finish to your drink.
While not strictly necessary, having the right tools can greatly enhance your cocktail-making experience and help you achieve professional-level results if you’re into that kind of thing. However, if you don’t have special equipment on hand, improvise with what you have at home. To make a great cocktail (or a great meal!) you don’t need fancy equipment to make it taste fantastic!
HOW TO MAKE CRUSHED ICE FOR COCKTAILS
These days it’s fairly easy to buy bags of crushed ice for cocktails. But it’s just as easy to make your own crushed ice. Blitzing ice in a blender is an option, but this tends to crush the ice too much. If the ice is crushed too small it will melt quickly and your cocktail will be watered down in no time!
A better way is to put plenty of ice cubes in the middle of a clean lint-free tea towel. Close up the towel around the ice and use a rolling pin to crush it. You want the ice to be in smallish but irregular pieces.
Other Liqueurs that would work in this cocktail
–Chambard – for a raspberry flavor
-Aperol – for a complex citrus flavor
-Black raspberry liqueurs like Crème de Mûre – This is the type of liqueur used in the original bramble cocktail.
-Or try your favorite fruity liqueur and see how it tastes
Black Currant Gin Bramble | A Creme De Cassis Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 oz Gin
- 1/2 oz Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/2 oz Creme de Cassis
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz of Gin, 1/2 oz of fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz of simple syrup.
- Next, add a handful of ice to the shaker and put on the lid.
- Vigorously shake the combination for about ten seconds.
- Immediately pour the strained contents into a lowball glass filled with crushed ice.
- Gently pour 1/2 oz of Creme de Cassis through the liquid to settle at the bottom of the glass.
- Garnish the drink with a lemon slice or peel twist.