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    Home » Recipes

    Raspberry Shrub Recipe

    by Patti Estep · Jun 24, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    Raspberry shrub cocktail, berries in sugar and straining berries.
    Cocktail glass with raspberry shrub mix, ice, fresh raspberries and mint.
    Cocktail glass with ice and raspberry shrub mix.

    Learn how to make a drink from fruit and vinegar with this raspberry shrub recipe. Get creative with the many possible combinations to try. Make it a cocktail with your favorite liquor or a refreshing non-alcoholic drink with seltzer water.

    Raspberry shrub in a glass with mint and fresh rapberries.

    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 drinking vinegars before, I haven't actually ever tried one. So when we were offered a blood orange shrub at our first stop I could not believe how light 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.

    How to Make a Raspberry Shrub

    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.

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    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.

    Berries and sugar in a bowl.

    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.

    Straining berries in a mesh strainer with a wooden spoon.

    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 a Shrub Cocktail:

    1. On the rocks - may be a little too tart for some.
    2. On the rocks with club soda or seltzer - I'd use 1 to 1 or a 2 to 1 ratio and taste to see if you want more of either the shrub or the seltzer.
    3. As a cocktail mixer with your choice of liquor. We used vodka and tequila and enjoyed them both. Adding the seltzer or soda water lightens the drink, in taste and calories, so you can have more than one.
    Raspberry shrub mix in a mason jar. A shot glass full of the mix and a cocktail with ice and fresh mint and berries.

    How Long Will It Keep?

    This raspberry shrub recipe should keep in the refrigerator for a few months due to the high acidity of the vinegar.

    Shrub Variation Ideas

    The possible combinations are endless, and you'll find tons of ideas if you simply google shrub recipes.

    • Use different kinds of vinegar such as balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar.
    • Use different fruit such as blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, peaches, blackberries, plums, 
    • Experiment with different sweeteners such as maple syrup, brown sugar, agave, or honey.
    • Try using some herbs such as rosemary, mint, or thyme.

    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.

    Patti signature

    More Drink Syrup Recipes

    • Infused Simple Syrup Recipes
    • Skinny Moscow Mule
    • Homemade Wild Violet Syrup

    Raspberry Shrub Recipe

    A fresh berry and vinegar syrup with your favorite liqueur makes a great cocktail or refreshing non-alcoholic drink on a hot summer day.
    4.66 from 35 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 servings
    Calories 110 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups fresh raspberries
    • 2 cups white 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 with a mesh sieve by pressing the liquid from the fruit pulp into a fresh bowl.
    • Combine the fruit syrup with the vinegar into a clean mason jar.
    • Top with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 months.
    • Serve plain, with sparkling water, or with your liquor of choice.

    Notes

    You can use frozen raspberries or other fruit too. Just be sure to allow extra time for thawing.
    This shrub mixture could also be used as a delicious salad dressing. Just combine equal parts of the shrub syrup with a light olive oil or other light oil.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.003gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    Tried this recipe?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny

      August 12, 2022 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks for this recipe. I also enjoyed my first shrub drink while visiting CA!
      We made the following drink
      Officer Ripley
      2 oz bourbon
      1 oz lemon juice
      1/2 oz dry curaçao
      3/4-1 oz shrub
      Delicious! Thanks again for this recipe!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 13, 2022 at 7:01 am

        That sounds good Jenny. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    2. Dula

      July 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm

      I chose #3 last summer. After making lots of jam, I still had raspberries galore. My daughter suggested making shrub. I used organic apple cider vinegar (great health properties) and made each of us almost 1/2 gallon! (Glass milk jars repurposed) I didn’t drink all of mine before NW cold, dreary winter arrived and the jar was pushed to the back of the fridge. A year later, it was still good. The vinegar is a wonderful preserver. I’m making some more today.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        July 15, 2020 at 2:40 pm

        That's great to hear Dula. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your shrubs.

        Reply
    3. Betty

      March 24, 2020 at 8:15 am

      If you hear the shrub to a boil can it be sealed in the jar so it will be shelf stable. I have tons of blueberries in season and would love to can it because of limited refrigerator space. Love shrub!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        March 24, 2020 at 9:11 am

        Betty, I don't know enough about canning but I have seen commercial shrubs for sale which makes me think that you can probably do it.

        Reply
    4. Kim

      June 29, 2018 at 12:30 pm

      4 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 29, 2018 at 1:14 pm

        Thanks Kim. They are so fun and refreshing. I hope you love it!

        Reply
      • Karen Schleis

        March 27, 2024 at 10:15 pm

        I was introduced to shrubs at a farm-to-table restaurant in Duluth, MN a half doz years ago. Then I did a deep dive into shrubs. The syrup was created as a way to use overripe (not moldy) fruit. It can be naturally fermented in about 7 weeks. To simplify the process, vinegar is added. Apple Cider Vinegar is fermented so will provide a different flavor than white or balsamic (or?) vinegars. It makes a vinegar drink, like kombucha, & can be diluted by simply adding plain carbonated water (to taste). If bottled carbonated water gives you a headache, use a naturally carbonated one (ie, Mountain Valley or Perrier). I did set up a Shrub Bar for my 60th bday, putting 5 shrub recipes on an old window w/ suggestions for mocktails & cocktails. All the add-ins & glasses were in stacked wooden crates & a table had everything else for mixing. It was so fun that my husband had a neon sign made! Now I will forever have a shrub bar! It's great fun. I'm using a raspberry shrub as I write, but my #1 is Blueberry Sage Shrub. Note: I would always dilute the syrup.

        Reply
        • Patti Estep

          March 28, 2024 at 10:07 am

          Karen, what a fun idea! I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.

    5. Crystal

      May 15, 2018 at 10:37 am

      What type of vinegar?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 15, 2018 at 10:46 am

        I used white vinegar but you could probably use apple cider too.

        Reply
      • Crystal

        May 17, 2018 at 7:12 pm

        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.

        Reply
        • Patti Estep

          May 18, 2018 at 8:41 am

          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.

    6. Harry Marshall

      January 30, 2018 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 30, 2018 at 8:12 am

        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.

        Reply
    4.66 from 35 votes (35 ratings without comment)

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    I'm Patti

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    Raspberry shrub cocktail, berries in sugar and straining berries.
    Cocktail glass with raspberry shrub mix, ice, fresh raspberries and mint.
    Cocktail glass with ice and raspberry shrub mix.

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