Bristol

'Bristol' was released in 1934 by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva from the cross Watson Prolific × Honeysweet, placing it in the very first generation of black raspberries to come out of a public breeding programme in the United States. Nearly a century on it is still recommended by extension services and still planted, and the reason is almost entirely flavour — it is widely held to be among the best-eating black raspberries ever released. Penn State is blunt about the trade-off, recommending 'Bristol' while noting that 'Jewel' (1973) is more vigorous, larger-fruited and better on disease overall. It is a floricane type producing a single crop a year on second-year canes, and in a good season an established planting can be picked daily for about a month. Growers choose it over 'Jewel' or 'MacBlack' when eating quality outranks tonnage and they are willing to manage anthracnose.