What’s a Shrub?

A shrub is a fruity-acidic concentrated syrup you can use to add flavor to carbonated water, cocktails, teas, and so on. Made with fruit, sugar, vinegar, and herbs, a shrub adds a tart yet sweet taste (and possibly spicy!) taste to drinks.

For Martinis or Cocktails that are strained into chilled glass (aka “up”)

• Basic idea:
  2 oz. base spirit (gin, vodka, whiskey)
  1/2 oz. cocktail shrub
  1/2 oz. complementary liqueur
  dash of bitters

• Simple syrup substitute:
  Shrubs have a good amount of sugar, enough that in many recipes you can use in place of simple syrup

• Suggested garnishes:
  Shrubs are “fruit forward.” That is, you can really taste the peach, plum, etc. Build on this by garnishing the martini with blackberry, small chunk of strawberry, and so on, instead of the typical cocktail onion.

For cocktails that are served over ice (on the rocks or on crushed ice):

• Basic idea:
  2 parts spirit
  1 part citrus
  1/2 part cocktail shrub
  Splash of soda
  muddled fresh herb, berry or vegetable

• Tart:
  By nature, shrubs are tart. This makes for a refreshing taste that doesn’t linger. In other words, perfect for sippable Summer iced drinks.

Suggested garnishes:
A basil leaf, sprig of rosemary, some mint -- most herbs work well and complement the fruit flavor.