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Creme de mure is a blackberry liqueur that tastes like berry jam! Here’s why it deserves a place in your liquor collection.
It’s sweet tart, jammy, and a swig tastes like the best berry candy you’ve ever had: it’s creme de mure! This dark, sweet French liqueur is absolutely worth the purchase: in fact, you might find the flavor transcendental. (We did!) It’s well-known in the Bramble cocktail, but this berry liqueur can be used for so much more. Here’s more about it and how to use it in drinks.
What is crème de mûre?
Crème de mûre is a French liqueur made with fresh blackberries. It’s been made in France since the 1800’s, and today it’s made by many different brands. The flavor is rich and jammy, juicy sweet with a tart berry finish. It’s most well-known for its inclusion in the Bramble cocktail paired with gin and lemon, invented in the 1980’s in London.
Creme de mure is one in a family of French crème liqueurs, liqueurs with a high sugar content. Despite the sound of the name, the crème family of liqueurs have no dairy. Others include crème de cacao (chocolate), crème de menthe (mint), and crème de cassis (blackcurrant).
What does creme de mure taste like?
Creme de mure is powerful and layered: fruity, rich, bold, sweet, bright, and jammy all at once, with a sweet tart finish. It tastes like a larger than life version of a blackberry candy, and it’s instantly memorable. When the Bramble cocktail’s inventor Dick Bradsell tried creme de mure for the first time, he had a “moment” and was immediately transported back to his fruit picking childhood (read about it here).
What ABV is crème de mûre? It is 17% ABV (alcohol by volume), so it has a relatively low alcohol level, similar to most sweet liqueurs.
Are there any substitutes? Chambord, a French black raspberry liqueur, or crème de cassis, a French blackcurrant liqueur, are decent substitutes for crème de mure. But there’s nothing quite like the smooth, pungent sweetness of the real thing. It’s worth seeking out a bottle. (Trust us!)
Why we like it
A sip of crème de mûre is as transcendental experience! The powerful blackberry jam flavor is immediately surprising and pleasant. Use it in a Bramble cocktail, or pair it with champagne for a berry-forward spin on the Kir Royale! It’s also fantastic as a summery spritzer paired with soda water.
How much does it cost?
Creme de mûre ranges from inexpensive to mid-range. A 750 ml bottle of Drillaud brand costs $15, Joseph Cartron Creme de Mure is around $25, and Giffard Creme de Mure costs about $30. We highly recommend the Joseph Cartron brand pictured here.
Popular creme de mure cocktails
Creme de mure works as a shot or you can serve it over ice, but it’s at its best in cocktails. Here are a few ways to use it in drinks:
The most famous creme de mure cocktail? The Bramble, pairing this sweet liqueur with gin and fresh lemon juice! It was invented in 1984 by a British bartender named Dick Bradsell, who worked at Fred’s Club in London, to honor his memories of blackberry picking as a child. Man, does this drink deliver!
Ingredients: Creme de mure, gin, lemon juice, crushed ice
This famous French cocktail stars blackcurrant liqueur and sparkling wine. Substitute crème de mure for crème de cassis and it's even more berry-forward! The sweet jammy flavor and bubbles suit each other perfectly. The best cocktails are rooted in simplicity, and there’s really nothing better than this two ingredient drink!
Ingredients: Creme de mure, Champagne
Here’s a sophisticated cocktail that’s calling your name: the French martini! This martini is fruity and balanced. It's typically made with Chambord, a French black raspberry liqueur, but creme de mure is the ideal substitute. Each sip is so intriguing and nuanced, it’s hard to put the glass down!
Ingredients: Vodka, pineapple juice, creme de mure
Before there was the Kir Royale, there was an even simpler drink: the Kir! This classic French cocktail mixes two ingredients for a sophisticated aperitif. Substitute creme de mure for the crème de cassis and it has even stronger berry notes.
Ingredients: Creme de mure, dry white wine
This favorite creme de cassis cocktail is even better with creme de mure: the bubbly El Diablo! Take one sip and you’ll become a convert. Bold berries, zingy lime, and spicy ginger complement the bite of the tequila in a way that’s indescribable.
Ingredients: Creme de mure, tequila, lime, ginger beer
Guide to Creme de Mure & Cocktails!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
The Bramble cocktail is one of the great modern gin cocktails! Drizzle a lemony gin sour with candy-sweet blackberry liqueur for a stunning drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) gin
- ¾ ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) lemon juice
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup
- ¾ ounce (1 ½ tablespoons) crème de mûre*
- Crushed ice, for serving
- For the garnish: Lemon slice and fresh blackberry
Instructions
- Add crushed ice to a lowball glass.
- Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake until cold.
- Strain the drink into the glass with crushed ice. Drizzle the crème de mûre over crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon slice and afresh blackberry.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Keywords: Creme de mure
Let us know if you have any questions!
★★★★★
I have been wanting to try many of these for some time, and I have searched the world high and low for Crème de Mûre and it simply can’t be found anywhere. In fact, I have yet to find any liquor store that has even heard of it. I’m not quite ready to buy it online and pay as much for the shipping as it costs for the liqueur. How different is a “Crème de Mûre” from a no-name “blackberry liqueur?”
You can definitely substitute as long as it has sweet notes!