Sweet and sour, my Blackberry Ginger Shrub recipe is an amazing summer drink for both a non-alcoholic kid drink or a refreshing summer cocktail for adults. For adults, my Blackberry Ginger Shrub Cocktail recipe is served on the rocks with either vodka, gin or the traditional rum (rum shrubs date back to the 15th century), then top it off with either sparkling wine or hard apple cider (I prefer the hard apple cider).
Shrub drinks begin with a concentrated vinegar based simple syrup. Equal parts apple cider vinegar and sugar are brought to a boil and then poured over muddled fruit where it is allowed to steep overnight or up to 4 days. The mixture is then strained and stored for up to a month in the refrigerator.
Smugglers and pirates helped to create the shrub back in the 1600s. Before landing in port, they would hide barrels of alcohol offshore to avoid paying taxes on the imported booze. Often the seawater would contaminate the alcohol giving a bad taste, in order to disguise the off-flavor they would add a sweetened fruit mixture, thus was born the shrub.
Here’s my Blackberry Ginger Shrub Recipe:
CONCENTRATE INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Pints Fresh Blackberries, muddled
- 1 Tablespoon Grated Ginger
- ½ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Cup Sugar
PROCESS:
-In a non-reactive container, crush the blackberries and mix with the grated fresh ginger and black pepper
-Bring the apple cider and sugar to a boil and pour the mixture over the crushed berries
-Let steep overnight or up to 4 days, strain through a fine mesh strainer and store in a tightly sealed non-reactive container for up to one month
Kids Blackberry Ginger Shrub recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Ounces Blackberry Ginger Shrub concentrate
- 4 Ounces Sparkling Beverage of your choice
PROCESS:
-Pour the Blackberry Ginger Shrub concentrate in a glass over ice
-Top off with whatever sounds good to you, sparkling water, club soda, ginger beer, apple juice, etc.
Adult Blackberry Ginger Shrub Cocktail recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 Ounces Blackberry Ginger Shrub concentrate
- 1 ½ Ounces Gin, Vodka or Rum
- Top off with Hard Apple Cider or Sparkling Wine
PROCESS:
-Pour the Blackberry Ginger Shrub concentrate in a tall glass before adding ice (gives a layered effect)
-Add ice and alcohol
-Top off with sparkling wine or hard apple cider
