The Beetlejuice Bramble: A Spooky Take on a Classic Cocktail

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When your evening calls for something a little mysterious and bold, the Beetlejuice Bramble Cocktail sets the mood.  It’s all about bringing a unique flavor to your Halloween gathering.

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The Beetlejuice Bramble cocktail will make your Halloween bash unforgettable.  Hopefully you have better luck finding Midori than I did so the layers are more pronounced.  No disrespect to Dekuper, but their melon liquor is not as vibrantly green as Midori.  And to be honest, I’m not a mixologist.  I do my best at floating liquor, but it just didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted.  But the taste is all there!  I’ve never tasted green chartreuse, but it’s another option for this cocktail.

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What is a Bramble Cocktail?

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The Bramble is a modern classic in the cocktail world. At its core, it’s a cocktail with gin that is shaken with fresh lemon juice and simple syrup.  It’s finished with a drizzle of blackberry liqueur over crushed ice. It’s a refreshingly bright cocktail.  If you’re a better mixologist than me, you can easily get layers of color in your bramble.

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The Bramble was born in 1980s London. Created by legendary bartender Dick Bradsell, it was inspired by the British tradition of picking wild blackberries.  He designed the drink to highlight the fruit’s tart, juicy character. Since then, the Bramble has become a staple in bars around the world.  It’s loved for its balance of sweet, sour, and botanical flavors.  And it’s the perfect base for this Beetlejuice Bramble with its green and purplish black coloring.

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What colors are associated with Halloween and why?

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Halloween is all about color and this Beetlejuice Bramble fits right in! The black of the blackberries symbolizes mystery and the unknown as well as darkness and, of course, death.  Not the Halloween is all about death, but it sort of is. 

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The ancient tradition celebrated Samhain which marked the start of winter.  It was believed that during this time, the boundary between the living and the dead was thin.  This allowed spirits to cross into the world of the living.  Christians celebrated All Hallows Eve before All Saints Day.  It is a time to remember and honor all the saints.

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Then there’s green.  It represents eerie nature like vines.  That’s a bit of a stretch.  It also represents the sickly complexion of witches especially after the Wizard of Oz.  The latter seems more realistic and driven by popular society and marketing.   Next there’s purple which is associated with mystical elements, spirituality, and magic.  It’s historically connected to witchcraft and wizardry as witches would often have purple doors.

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Obviously, orange is Halloween color because of the color of pumpkins, harvest, and the firelight of ancient bonfires.  Pumpkins are from the Irish legend of Sticky Jack.  He originally had a turnip head, but when immigrants came to the States, they found a pumpkin was better and bigger.

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Finally, there’s red and white.  Red being the color of blood and symbolic with vampires.  White being the color ghosts and apparitions, creepy fog, and mummies, and skeletons or bones of the dead.

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This Beetlejuice Bramble has purple from the blackberries and green from the melon liquor.  The coloring from the movie is mostly purple and green with some black and white thrown in there.  While the colors aren’t as striped as I wanted, the flavor is all there. 

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Picking the Best Blackberries

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Great cocktails start with great ingredients. When choosing blackberries for your Bramble, look for berries that are plump, shiny, and deep black-violet in color. Avoid mushy or shriveled berries. Blackberries are at their peak from late spring to early fall, but you can often find good-quality berries in grocery stores year-round. If fresh isn’t available, frozen blackberries make a solid backup.

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Blackberry Bliss: The Importance of Blackberries

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Blackberries are the backbone of this Beetlejuice Bramble. They add a juicy, tart sweetness which balances the botanicals in the gin and the sweetness of the melon liquor.  They also balance out the brightness of the lemon. Their striking color also gives the cocktail its signature look.

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When selecting blackberries for cocktails, look for berries that are firm, glossy, with a rich black-violet color.  All of these items indicate freshness and peak ripeness. Avoid any berries that are soft, dull, or have shriveled spots.  They can affect the flavor and texture of your drink. If fresh blackberries aren’t available, frozen ones are a reliable alternative and can still deliver excellent taste and vibrant color.

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Ingredients to make this Beetlejuice Bramble cocktail

 

It’s a cocktail so there’s a short list of ingredients:

Ice, blackberries, simple syrup, lemon juice, gin, melon liquor

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How to Make the Beetlejuice Bramble

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Muddle 5 to 6 blackberries in the bottom of a rocks glass.  Fill the glass with crushed ice. In a shaker, combine 2 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 ounce of simple syrup.  Shake well and strain the mixture over the ice.  Carefully drizzle 1 ounce of melon liqueur over the top. Watch as it trickles down, creating a haunting ombré effect.  Garnish with fresh blackberries, a twist of lemon, or one of those green and purple gummy worms.

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Tips for Making the Bramble Cocktail

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Use crushed ice.  It provides the most surface area for quick chilling which also provides faster dilution for spirits.  Make sure to use fresh lemon juice.  It has a brightness that bottle lemon juice does not which elevates this cocktail.  If the sweetness of the melon liquor is enough for you, the you can skip the simple syrup.  If you want it to be sweeter, add more.  Finally, try muddling a few blackberries in the shaker for extra flavor and color intensity.

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Serving Up The Beetlejuice Bramble for Spooky Vibes

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Make sure to serve this cocktail in clear glasses to show off the cocktail’s color layers. Add eerie touches like dry ice (for fog), Halloween-themed picks, or candy garnishes. A sprig of rosemary can resemble a witch’s broom.  You can thread some blackberries on there, too. 

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Try dipping the rim in purple and green sugar to dazzle your guests and highlight the purple and green colors of this cocktail. Don’t forget the moody lighting! 

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This Beetlejuice Bramble isn’t just a cocktail.  It’s an experience. It not only blends rich history with vibrant Halloween colors, but it also blends spirits and flavors together.  Using a little bit of mixology magic, you can create a drink that’s as memorable as your Halloween party. Cheers to a deliciously spooky night!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Welcome to 2025’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!

This is our 8th year doing #HalloweenTreatsWeek … has it really been 8 years? Wow!

#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife every October. This event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some amazingly wicked Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween-loving bloggers!

Make Sure to check out all of the fun Halloween recipes that we’re sharing this week!

• Mummy Chicken Pot Pies from Big Bear’s Wife
• Marshmallow Ghost Dip from Semi-Homemade Recipes
• Mozzarella and Tomato Eyeball Skewers from Southern Halloween Queen
• Vampire Bite Cake Shake from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Halloween Margarita Mocktail from Jen Around the World
• Black Cocoa Raven Cookies from Savory Moments
• Mummy Meatballs from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Eyeball Cookies from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Skull Gnocchi from The Spiffy Cookie
• Witch’s Brew Cocktail from Art of Natural Living
• Beetlejuice Bramble from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Franken Berry Crumb Cake from Sweet ReciPEAs
• Beetlejuice Movie Night Snack Mix from For the Love of Food