Learn how to make a drink from fruit and vinegar with this raspberry shrub recipe. Get creative with the many possible combinations to try.
This raspberry shrub recipe was inspired by our trip to Sonoma, California. In fact, it was given to us at SHED just like my recipe for California new potato salad. Though I had heard of these drinks with vinegar before, I haven’t actually ever tried one. So when we were offered a blood orange shrub at our first stop, I was excited to try it, and could not believe how tasty and refreshing it tasted.
We were told the blood orange shrub was made with sherry vinegar. On our way home, my brother picked up a bottle of lime flavored shrub, which I had that evening with a little vodka, seltzer and fresh lime.
Now home in PA, I decided to try making one of my own. I did some research and it seems pretty easy with many options. Basically you just combine fruit, sugar and vinegar to make the shrub. I chose raspberries with apple cider vinegar for this recipe.
I noticed three different methods, all using about equal parts fruit, vinegar and sugar.
Raspberry Shrub Recipe
Method 1
Combine equal parts fruit and sugar and heat to make a syrup. Then add you vinegar and strain.
Method 2
Heat vinegar until it just begins to simmer. Pour it over the fruit in a jar, cover and let it stand for a couple of days. Then strain out the fruit, place the fruit infused vinegar in a saucepan with the sugar and bring to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool and use, or refrigerate.
Method 3 (I chose this one)
This method requires no heat. I like this idea because I know that heating food can change the flavor, and I was in no hurry so this is the one I tried.
Combine fruit and sugar in a clean bowl mashing it up as you stir. Cover with plastic, and store in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Strain out the fruit and pour into a clean jar with equal parts vinegar. Place the jar with a tight fitting lid in the refrigerator where it should last for a few months.
How to serve:
- One the rocks – maybe be a little too tart for some.
- One the rocks with seltzer – I’d use 1 to 1 or 1 ratio and taste to see if you want more of either the shrub or the seltzer.
- As a cocktail mixer with your choice of liquor. We used vodka and tequila and enjoyed them both. Adding the seltzer lightens the drink, in taste and calories, so you can have more than one. 🙂
This raspberry shrub recipe should keep in the refrigerator for a few months due to the high acidity of the vinegar. The possible combinations are endless, and you and find tons of ideas if you simple google shrub recipes.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a little shrub cocktail bar? Entertain your guests with a few different shrub combinations, fresh pieces of fruit and a few liquors to let them create their own signature shrub cocktail.
Raspberry Shrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups white vinegar
Instructions
- Combine raspberries and sugar in a bowl
- Mix and mash up the fruit into the sugar.
- Cover and set in refrigerator for 2 or 3 days.
- Strain berries and sugar into a fresh bowl.
- Combine the berries syrup with the vinegar into a clean mason jar.
- Top with lid and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
- Serve plain, with seltzer, or with your liquor of choice.
Kim
During a recent trip to Cape Cod I had two cocktails made with shrubs. The Lobster Pot served a Gin and Tonic with Casis Berry Shrub that was fantastic. It was also beautifully presented with green sugar on the glass rim and mint leaves as a garnish. I will be trying this recipe very soon! 4 stars for incentive.
Patti Estep
Thanks Kim. They are so fun and refreshing. I hope you love it!
Crystal
What type of vinegar?
Patti Estep
I used white vinegar but you could probably use apple cider too.
Crystal
Just out of curiosity what does the vinegar do? I’m new to this but I never liked the smell of vinegar and it just seems so counterintuitive to add it to something as delicious as raspberry simple syrup. Thanks.
Patti Estep
Well, for me the vinegar gives it a nice tartness that I find very refreshing. I really like the combinations like sweet and sour, sweet and spicy etc.. I’m sure it’s not for everyone.
Harry Marshall
Well thank you very for clearing up the question of how much vinegar does one add. I’ve been all over the place and it seems every recipe say’s equal parts sugar, water, heat to dissolve sugar, add fruit and simmer, then add vinegar but never says how much vinegar, just add. You’ve cleared that up. I’ve never had, heard or made this before so I have no idea what it was suppose taste like ie. the amount of vinegar. thank you.
Patti Estep
Hi Harry,
It was my first time tasting this type of drink while we were in California and I couldn’t wait to experiment making one myself. I hope you enjoy the process too.