How to make Creme de Mure / Blackberry Liqueur

Creme de Mure is a french blackberry liqueur that is vibrant in color, sweet and tart in taste and full of flavor. The liqueur is one of the key ingredients in a Bramble created by Dick Bradsell in the 1980’s but it’s also perfect in a Kir cocktail. If you like to experiment with different cocktails Creme de Mure should definitely be a part of your home bar.

You can either buy Creme de Mure (often quite cheap and also good quality) but why not make it yourself?

Blackberries about to be forest

Creme de Mure / Blackberry Liqueur recipe

There is a lot of different variations on the recipes to make Creme de Mure where some use vodka or gin and some use wine (often a sweet wine like Merlot or similar). Some recipes also add a dash of Cognac, Armagnac or Brandy. My version takes a little bit of everything and use Port Wine instead of wine or a dash of cognac and I think it adds a little more depth to the Creme de Mure than if you are only using vodka or wine.

You will need

  • 5 dl of blackberries or 8-10 dl frozen
  • 2 dl good quality vodka
  • 0,5 dl. Port wine
  • 1,5 – 2,5 dl simple syrup (see her how to make it)
  • Organic lemon peel. A few centimeters will do it.

Tools: Mason Jar or similar, muddler, a measuring cup and a bottle for storage.

How to (also check out the pictures below):

  1. Add 5 dl. fresh blackberries and 2 dl. vodka in the jar
  2. Bash all of the blackberries with the vodka
  3. Add 0,5 dl Port Wine, a 4-5 of centimeters of lemon peel and shake.
  4. Leave it for 3-5 days in a dark place. Shake it once a day.
  5. Strain it into a bowl. I just used a mesh strainer and the back of a spoon to get the last drops from the blackberries but ideally you should use a muslin cloth or cheesecloth.
  6. Add simple syrup to taste. You will want a liquor that have different layers of sweet, tart, bold and rich.
  7. Pour the liqueur in a bottle.
  8. Go and make yourself a Bramble – You derserve it!

Step 1 – Add the vodka to the blackberries

Step 1 - Add the vodka to the blackberries

Step 2 – Smash the blackberries

Step 2 - Smash the blackberries

Step 3 – Add the Port Wine and the lemon peel

Step 3 - Add the Port Wine and the lemon peel

Step 4 – Now just wait and shake for a week and fine strain the liqueur

Step 5 – Make a bramble or another cocktail with your homemade Creme de Mure

Step 4 - Make a bramble or another cocktail with your homemade Creme de Mure