Shrubs, which come from the Arabic word sharāb meaning, “to drink,” has been used since the Babylonian times when flavoured vinegar was added to water to make it safe to drink. This is a straightforward blend of lemon juice, gin, and sugar.
YIELDS
1
Ingredients
Shrub
2 lbs strawberries, preferably organic, washed well, hulled, and cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Pinch of salt
2 cups apple cider vinegar
Cocktail
2 oz dry gin
1/2 oz simple syrup
1 1/2 oz strawberry shrub
Soda, for topping
Fresh strawberry, for garnish
Directions
Shrub
In a very large glass or ceramic bowl, add cut strawberries.
In a sauce pot set over medium heat, bring sugar, salt, and water to a gentle boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
Pour sugar mixture (simple syrup) over strawberries and allow to cool.
When room temperature, add vinegar to the strawberry mixture and stir to combine
Place the bowl in the fridge to macerate for up to eight hours or overnight.
Strain the fruit from the liquid, and reserve strawberries for future use.
Put the liquid in jars and store it in the fridge until needed. (Shrubs will easily last two weeks.)
Add a one-quarter cup to eight ounces of sparkling water, or to taste.
Cocktail
Fill a tall glass with ice.
Add gin, simple syrup, and strawberry shrub stirring to combine and chill.