How To Make A Berry Shrub and Delicious Shrub Drinks

A berry shrub has a tangy flavor that is at the same time sweet, acidic and fruity. Shrubs are delicious and refreshing when mixed with seltzer and they add that “je-ne-sais-quoi” taste element to cocktails. For about ten years now, shrubs have been surging in popularity on the craft cocktail scene, but their origin goes back over three hundred years. It’s time we all learned how to make a shrub.

My introduction to shrubs - Dry January

Hello everyone. This is Eddie, Lisa’s husband and sometime guest blogger at Panning the Globe. Over the last few months I've become enamored with making berry shrubs and shrub drinks. I'm going to explain why and also share my favorite shrub recipe with you.

I had been hearing about shrubs for years, but had never taken the time to learn much about them despite my longstanding interest in cocktails.

Lisa and I were at a restaurant with friends during “Dry January”, and I ordered a mocktail drink that contained a shrub. I confessed to the table that I didn’t even really know what a shrub was.

Fortunately, one member of our dinner party not only knew what shrubs were; he’d been making them obsessively for years. He shared with me the basics and I spent the next several weeks researching and experimenting with shrub recipes.

One of the things I really love about a shrub is that, just by adding seltzer, it substitutes beautifully for that glass of wine or cocktail you might have otherwise have had. It feels like you are treating yourself to something special. I even go so far as to use garnishes on a weekday night for Lisa and me, because you know, we’re worth it!

What is a shrub and since when?

A shrub, sometimes called 'drinking vinegar,' is essentially a syrup made from fruit, sugar and vinegar. Other ingredients, such as spices and herbs, can also be used during the infusion process.

Shrubs existed in colonial times in America and are said to date back to 17th century England, when vinegar was used as a preservative for fruits. The word shrub is originally from the Arabic word “sharāb”, which means: to drink.

Here's what you'll need to make a berry shrub

• Fruit (I use blackberries and raspberries in this recipe)
• Granulated sugar
• Vinegar (I use distilled white vinegar)
• Optional: other aromatics (I use ginger root in this recipe)

Variations

The possible combinations of fruit, sugar and various types of vinegar are endless. I love that about a shrub: it allows you to create something that makes your drinks unique in the world!

I experimented with a number of variations before I came upon the shrub recipe I am sharing. I found that keeping the vinegar simple allows the other flavors more room to contribute. I made one recipe with apple cider vinegar and that was essentially all I could taste. But that’s me. I encourage you to explore and if you find a combination you love, please come back and share it with us at Panning the Globe.

How to make a berry shrub

The basic process for making a shrub is so easy and takes so little time, it almost feels unfair to other foods and drinks where so much work is required for only half the flavor.

• Bruise the fruit and mix it thoroughly with the sugar.
• Let this sit for 24 hours at room temperature. The berries will release their juices.

• After 24 hours, strain the resulting berry syrup into a plastic container.
• Reserve the macerated berries. They're absolutely delicious with yogurt and granola in the morning!

• Combine the syrup from the berries along with a cup of distilled white vinegar into a mason jar or other sealable container.
• Add a piece or two of smashed, sliced ginger root and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. The flavor develops further and mellows over time and is even better after about a week or two.

How to make shrub drinks

Once you have a shrub in house, making a shrub drink is just a matter of combining some of the flavorful berry syrup with seltzer and ice. Or shake up a shrub cocktail with vodka or gin, ice and shrub.

If you want dive into making delicious cocktail shrubs, here's an article where bartenders share their trade secrets for making the best shrubs.

We've actually found the non-alcoholic shrub drink so compelling that we've been drinking it long after Dry January ended. Here's how to make our favorite recipe.

Fill any size glass with seltzer and ice and add shrub to taste. I find about two tablespoons works well for 5-6 oz. of seltzer.

Add a garnish and serve!

If you try this berry shrub recipe, I hope you'll come back to leave a star rating and a comment. Lisa and I would love to know what you think!

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