Russian Spring Punch recipe
A sparkling, effervescent vodka and blackcurrant highball created by London legend Dick Bradsell.
Method: Shake and top with sparkling wine ·
Glass: Chilled highball glass ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Family: Modern Classics
Ingredients
- 45 ml Vodka (Clean, unflavored)
- 25 ml Fresh lemon juice (Bright and freshly squeezed)
- 15 ml Crème de cassis (Blackcurrant liqueur)
- 10 ml Simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water)
- Top up Sparkling wine (Dry Prosecco or Champagne)
How to make a Russian Spring Punch
- Combine the vodka, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for ten to fifteen seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with fresh ice cubes.
- Top up gently with chilled sparkling wine and stir briefly to combine.
Garnish
Garnish with a lemon slice and a fresh raspberry.
Pro tip
Chill both your sparkling wine and glassware thoroughly before assembling the drink. Pour the sparkling wine slowly down the inside of the glass to preserve its lively effervescence and prevent over-dilution.
History of the Russian Spring Punch
The Russian Spring Punch is widely credited to legendary London bartender Dick Bradsell, who created the drink during the 1980s while working at the Colony Room or Zanzibar Club. While oral histories and cocktail lore frequently attribute its invention directly to Bradsell's mastery of reviving vintage cocktail templates with modern fruit liqueurs, exact publication records in print remain less formally documented prior to the 1990s. The drink rapidly became a modern classic by bridging clean vodka, tart lemon juice, sweet blackcurrant cassis, and effervescent sparkling wine into an iconic British bar staple.
Flavour profile
Tart, Fizzy, Berry, Crisp
Variations
- Kir Royale — Omit vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup, serving only crème de cassis topped entirely with Champagne.
- Bramble Punch — Substitute gin for vodka and muddle fresh blackberries in place of crème de cassis.
Practise making the Russian Spring Punch in the free Virtual Bar game.