Last Updated on January 6, 2021
The perfect Autumnal Cocktail – Low Alcohol style.
One of my favourite cocktails at this time of year is called a Bramble. Traditionally made with gin, simple syrup, lemon juice and crème de mûre, it’s a simple seasonal drink that was created as recently as 1984 by Dick Bradsell. This quintessentially British cocktail was invented at Fred’s Club in Soho, for Bradsell the ‘Bramble’ was a drink that would take him back to his childhood blackberrying in the Autumn.
I’m one of those people who can really only drink a single cocktail. The heady combination of spirits in many cocktails just knocks me out. Fine if I’m just out for a quick catchup with friends, but no good at all if I’m going on to dine with wine or just fancy another drink. There are ways to make a bramble a little less intoxicating by substituting non-alcoholic crème de mûre for the full-fat version, but as you’ll see from the recipe below, most of the alcohol content normally comes from gin. And, all gin has to be 40% ABV or over, while crème de mûre has half that amount of alcohol anyway.
The solution for me is Trinity25, so named because it is just 25% ABV. As such, it can’t be called ‘gin’, but it’s made in the same way with 100% English grain spirit, cold infused with juniper and a ‘Trinity’ of botanicals – cardamom, coriander seeds and black pepper. That means my Bramble has much less alcohol, even if I use an alcoholic crème de mûre.
For anyone trying to cut down their alcohol consumption, it’s a real blessing. A lot of my favourite ‘lower alcohol’ cocktails are summer drinks (port and tonic for example or an Aperol spritz. So, I’m truly impressed by Trinity25. I started by enjoying a Trinity25 and tonic made just like a gin and tonic which in itself works remarkably well. The founder of Spirit of Bermondsey, Nick Johnson, moved into an old spice warehouse near the river and became fascinated by the history and heritage of the area. In the 19th Century, Bermondsey was a gateway from Europe to the New World – and a hub for the spice trade. Combining his lifelong passion for spirits with his fascination of Bermondsey, he’s worked to develop a drinks company which reflects our 21st Century mindfulness in the low alcohol products while encompassing the spirit of the area. Trinity25 is presented in a 19th-century style apothecary bottle and has been distilled in London since 2019.
An easy Autumnal Cocktail with Blackberry and Trinity25
- 45 ml Trinity25
- 30 ml Fresh Lemon Juice
- 15 ml Creme de Mur
- 15 ml Simple Syrup
- Crushed ice
- Ice cubes
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Fill a cocktail mixer with ice cubes
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Add the Trinity25, lemon juice and simple syrup
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Shake well
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Fill a tumbler with crushed ice
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Strain and pour the mixture from the cocktail shaker over the ice
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Top up with Creme de Mur
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Serve garnished with a slice of lemon, lemon verbena and a blackberry if you have one!
Calories estimated based on Trinity25 calorie count of 7 per serving x 3
If you wanted to reduce the alcohol further, you could substitute non-alcoholic blackberry cordial for crème de mûre. And, if you don’t have crème de mûre then crème de cassis will work too. It’s a great seasonal cocktail so I hope you try for yourself!
At around £28.00 a bottle, Trinity25 is a premium artisan spirit. But, with all the flavour of a good artisan gin and just over half the alcohol, it’s one worth investing in for the sake of your liver! You can buy from various online retails or from the Spirit of Bermondsey website. And, there are plans afoot to launch a range of spirits, so do sign up for the Spirit of Bermondsey mailing list!
A very appealing name and list of ingredients. Looks delicious and guilt free – almost.
This is a nice alternative if you don’t want too much alcohol or it’s school night