Blackberry Thyme Bramble mocktail recipe
Blackberry, lemon and thyme over crushed ice, strained clean of seeds and pulp.
Method: Shake · Glass: Rocks glass · Time: 6 minutes · Difficulty: Intermediate
Ingredients
- 6 ripe blackberries
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz 2:1 simple syrup
- 1½ oz strong chilled black tea
- 1 oz chilled club soda
- to fill crushed ice
How to make it
- Press the blackberries lightly in a shaker; do not grind the seeds.
- Add lemon, syrup, black tea and ice, then shake for 10 seconds.
- Double strain into a rocks glass packed with fresh crushed ice.
- Top with club soda and lift once from the bottom.
- Add the blackberries and thyme, then serve before the ice settles.
Garnish
Three blackberries and one short thyme sprig
Why this balance works
Blackberries are tart but also earthy, so lemon wakes them up while black tea keeps the drink from tasting like jam. Rich syrup gives the fruit enough body to survive the crushed ice. The soda is only a light finish; too much turns a short berry drink into purple fizz.
Technique to keep
Seed straining is not a fussy extra here. A hard muddle breaks blackberry seeds and makes the drink gritty, while a fine strain keeps the color and flavour but removes the rough texture. Crushed ice dilutes quickly, so pack it fresh and serve the drink as soon as it is built.
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