Bramble Screwdriver cocktail recipe

Presenting the perfect day drink — the Bramble Screwdriver.

Perfect. Really. How can we be so sure?

Well, we've had our fair share of these in broad daylight. 

But also: It has just two ingredients (it barely needs a recipe, really) and it's incredibly easy-drinking. And, it's familiar — this is a twist on a Screwdriver, which is simply vodka and OJ —but swapping regular vodka for our flavorful Bramble vodka makes it feel like more of a cocktail, without any of the labor. 

Bramble is our black raspberry-hibiscus vodka — it adds a bright, lush flavor to cocktails, and it just happens to be dynamite with OJ. (Did you know that Wine Enthusiast just awarded our Bramble 92 points?)

Brunch, tailgates, Saturdays on the lake ... this is your drink. 

BRAMBLE SCREWDRIVER

Makes 1 cocktail

6 ounces orange juice
1.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble

Fill a mason jar or Collins glass with ice, then add orange juice. Gently pour in the Bramble, letting it float on top for a layered look. Garnish with a orange wedge, and give it a stir before sipping.

One more thing: Don't skimp on the quality of OJ. At the distillery, we make Bramble Screwdrivers with fresh-squeezed OJ, which will change your life. That's not always convenient at home, though. Pick a better-quality bottled OJ, or if your grocery store fresh-squeezes and bottles OJ, go with that!  

Bramble Boom cocktail recipe

A burst? A blitz? A blast? A boom? Yes, a definite boom. This cocktail recipe by our bartender Alyvia Cain booms with lush berry flavor from our Bramble black raspberry vodka and fresh citrus juices, plus it's flecked with bits of garden mint. 

BRAMBLE BOOM

By Alyvia Cain of Cardinal Spirits

1.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce grapefruit juice
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
Fresh mint

 

Add all ingredients and ice to shaker. Shake well, then strain over ice in large rocks glass. Garnish with mint sprig.
 

 

Rubus Punch recipe

When it comes to summer punches, let's make a pact. No sugary pre-made mixers that come in jugs with handles. And, no Very Berry Blue Typhoon Wave Cooler.  No tubes of frozen juice, either.

When it comes to summer punches, let's keep it fresh, OK?

This Rubus Punch recipe by our bartender Chris Resnick, made with a trio of fresh juices and our terrific Bramble black raspberry vodka, is a fruity, fizzy cocktail that's fit for a crowd. Chris tips this punch into tiki territory with cinnamon syrup (the secret ingredient that all of your past summer punches have been missing). 

RUBUS PUNCH

By Chris Resnick of Cardinal Spirits

Makes about 8 cocktails

12.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble (about 1.5 cups, or half of a 750ml bottle) 
4.25 ounces fresh lemon juice
4.25 ounces fresh watermelon juice (you can give a few big chunks a whirl in a blender, or simply mash them with a muddler or fork)
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
2 ounces cinnamon simple syrup (recipe follows)
Club soda, to taste
Lemon wheels, for garnish

Combine Bramble, lemon juice, watermelon juice, grapefruit juice and cinnamon syrup in a pitcher. Add a few big scoops of ice, then stir several times to combine. Pour into small rocks glasses filled with ice, then top each glass with club soda. Garnish with lemon wheels.

*To make cinnamon simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 4 cinnamon sticks, and let simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Cool completely then remove cinnamon sticks before using.

Bramble Mule cocktail recipe

Bramble Mule is, without a doubt, the cocktail of the summer. This easy three-ingredient cooler is a twist on a Moscow Mule. Instead of regular vodka, we use our Bramble Black Raspberry Vodka, a flavorful spirit infused with whole black raspberries and hibiscus.

Lush black raspberry vodka meets zippy ginger beer and tart lime in a cold copper mug — when you make them with friends, you'll feel like you've nailed the whole easy, breezy summer entertaining thing.

Bramble Mules are a best-seller at the distillery, and here's how to make one at home:

BRAMBLE MULE

1.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble
1/2 ounce fresh squeezed lime juice
Ginger beer, to taste
Lime wedge, for garnish

Add vodka and lime juice to a copper mug, then fill with ice. Fill with ginger beer and garnish with lime wedge. 

Berry Brambler Cocktail Recipe

This cocktail tastes complex — like it has a bunch of ingredients and like you put a lot of work into it. The truth is, it couldn't be easier. You need just two spirits — our Bramble (black raspberry vodka) and our Songbird Craft Coffee Liqueur — plus a dash of bitters. Both spirits are immensely flavorful, so they do the heavy lifting in cocktails like this. With berry and coffee flavors, you might file this away as a dessert drink, but we guarantee you'll enjoy it anytime. 

BERRY BRAMBLER

2.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble Vodka
1/2 ounce Cardinal Spirits Songbird Craft Coffee Liqueur
1 dash orange bitters

Combine ingredients in a shaker, then add ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass.

TRY THIS AT HOME: BRAMBLE COCKTAIL RECIPES

Did you grab a bottle of Bramble, our newest spirit, over the weekend? Flavored with local black raspberries, blackberries and hibiscus, this vodka is a summer essential. It goes great with so many flavors, from green tea to ginger, and it plays well with gin and our coffee liqueur, too. The best part is that you don't need a ton of ingredients to make cocktails with it. Try these easy Bramble cocktail ideas:

BRAMBLE MARTINI

2.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble Vodka
1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Blackberries, for garnish

1. Add vodka and lemon juice to shaker with ice. 
2. Shake vigorously and strain into a coupe. Garnish with a blackberry.

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BRAMBLE ICED TEA

1.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble Vodka
4 ounces iced tea

Combine Bramble and iced tea in a glass with ice. Garnish with a big mint sprig and lemon wedge. 

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BERRY BRAMBLER

2.5 ounces Cardinal Spirits Bramble Vodka
1/2 ounce Cardinal Spirits Songbird Craft Coffee Liqueur
1 dash orange bitters

1. Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. 
2. Shake vigorously, then strain into a coupe glass.