Blackberry Bramble

Inspiration for my Blackberry Bramble comes from childhood memories of picking berries on my aunt and uncle’s hardscrabble farm. Distant echoes of howitzer and tank fire rolled through the hills as I picked, a reminder of the nearby activity at Fort Knox—a harbinger of the conflict that would soon unfold in Vietnam.

My aunt taught me how to find the ripest, juiciest berries, and I’d quickly fill a bucket from the fencerow. I can still hear the stretch and creak of the farmhouse’s screen door as I returned, the slam echoing behind me. She’d inspect my haul with a discerning eye and decide what to create—pies, cobblers, or jams. Today, it’s those same memories that inspired me to transform those blackberries into a cocktail that captures their vibrant flavor and the nostalgia of simpler times.

Making the Blackberry Bramble

I’ve always enjoyed blackberries in pastries and jellies, but never thought to use them in a cocktail—until now. Enter blackberry-infused bourbon, the star of this creation. When I first tried it neat, and then poured over a single large ice cube, I was blown away by the rich flavor and stunning red-amber hue.

From there, the real fun began, experimenting to find the perfect cocktail recipe to showcase this infusion. After some trial and error, I landed on a simple yet exquisite combination with just three ingredients and a garnish. The result? A drink that’s as delicious as it is beautiful.

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