Any-Berry Shrub (Fruit Drinking Vinegar)

Fruit shrub is a sweet-tart syrup made by combining ripe fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Mixed with sparkling water, it becomes one of the most refreshing nonalcoholic drinks around; stirred into gin, tequila, bourbon, or vodka, it makes a bright, balanced cocktail. The vinegar amplifies the fruit’s flavor while adding acidity that keeps the drink from tasting overly sweet.

This flexible recipe works with almost any ripe berry—strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, or a mix—and uses an easy cold-process method that lets the berries macerate with sugar before the vinegar is added. The resulting shrub keeps for months in the refrigerator, making it an excellent way to preserve peak-season fruit for summer cocktails, spritzes, and sparkling sodas long after berry season ends.

Any-Berry Shrub FAQ

What is a shrub?

A shrub is a fruit-and-vinegar syrup—sometimes called a drinking vinegar—that balances sweetness with bright acidity. It’s commonly mixed with sparkling water or used as a cocktail ingredient.

What berries work best?

Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, and blackberries all work beautifully, either on their own or combined. You could also swap in pitted cherries or grapes in season. The better the fruit tastes, the better your shrub will be.

Making it out of season? Frozen berries work well too. Thaw them overnight, then continue with the recipe as directed.

What’s the best vinegar to use? Can I add other flavors?

White wine vinegar and red wine vinegar produce bright, balanced shrubs that let the fruit shine. Apple cider vinegar has a stronger flavor and makes a bolder shrub, while white balsamic and rice vinegar are milder options.

You can customize your shrub with fresh herbs or aromatics, if desired. After straining, add in a 2"-piece of ginger, peeled and thinly sliced; a small bunch of basil or mint leaves, clapped to release aromas; a few sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme; or a 3"-piece of lemongrass, tough outer layers removed, smashed, and let infuse while refrigerated.

When is the shrub ready to drink?

While you can drink shrub immediately after adding the vinegar, don’t judge it on day one. It’ll taste quite sharp at first but become smoother and more balanced after about a week—and it’ll continue to evolve over time.

How do you serve shrub?

For a nonalcoholic drink, stir 2 Tbsp. shrub into a glass of ice and top with club soda, seltzer, or tonic. It also pairs well with spirits like gin, tequila, vodka, or bourbon for a quick summer cocktail. Start with 1½ oz. of whichever spirit you like and adjust from there.

Recipe information

• Total Time

  15 minutes, plus 8 days inactive time

• Yield

  Makes about 20

Total Time

15 minutes, plus 8 days inactive time

Yield

Makes about 20

Ingredients

shrub

12

1½

1

Assembly

Special equipment

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

1. Shrub

   Step 1

   Gently mash 12 oz. fresh berries (such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries), sliced, quartered if large, in a medium bowl with a fork. Transfer to jar, add 1½ cups (300 g) sugar, and stir to combine. Seal jar and let fruit mixture sit at room temperature, shaking a couple of times, until berries are very soft and falling apart and sugar is at least mostly dissolved, about 1 day (mixture should look very juicy).

   Step 2

   Strain fruit mixture through a fine-mesh sieve (line sieve with a layer of cheesecloth if you want to catch every bit of seed and fruit pulp) into a medium bowl; reserve fruit for another use (such as topping pancakes or adding to a smoothie) or discard. Scrape any undissolved sugar left in jar into bowl.

   Step 3

   Stir 1 cup vinegar (such as red wine, white wine, apple cider, white balsamic, or unseasoned rice) into strained syrup to combine. Taste shrub and add more sugar or vinegar to your liking—it should taste both sweet and sharp but not overpowering in either direction (keep in mind the flavors will meld as the shrub ages). Pour shrub into a clean jar; cover with lid and chill until flavors come together and mellow, about 1 week.

   Do Ahead: Shrub can be made 6 months ahead. The flavors become smoother and more integrated after the first week. Keep chilled.

2. Assembly

   Step 4

   For a refreshing nonalcoholic drink, pour 2 Tbsp. shrub into a glass filled with ice and top off with club soda; stir gently to combine. Garnish with fresh berries and/or herb sprigs if desired.

   Editor’s note: This shrub recipe was first printed in our June 2021 issue; it has been updated for style. Head this way for more of our best blueberry recipes →

Shrub

Step 1

Gently mash 12 oz. fresh berries (such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries), sliced, quartered if large, in a medium bowl with a fork. Transfer to jar, add 1½ cups (300 g) sugar, and stir to combine. Seal jar and let fruit mixture sit at room temperature, shaking a couple of times, until berries are very soft and falling apart and sugar is at least mostly dissolved, about 1 day (mixture should look very juicy).

Step 2

Strain fruit mixture through a fine-mesh sieve (line sieve with a layer of cheesecloth if you want to catch every bit of seed and fruit pulp) into a medium bowl; reserve fruit for another use (such as topping pancakes or adding to a smoothie) or discard. Scrape any undissolved sugar left in jar into bowl.

Step 3

Stir 1 cup vinegar (such as red wine, white wine, apple cider, white balsamic, or unseasoned rice) into strained syrup to combine. Taste shrub and add more sugar or vinegar to your liking—it should taste both sweet and sharp but not overpowering in either direction (keep in mind the flavors will meld as the shrub ages). Pour shrub into a clean jar; cover with lid and chill until flavors come together and mellow, about 1 week.

Do Ahead: Shrub can be made 6 months ahead. The flavors become smoother and more integrated after the first week. Keep chilled.

Assembly

Step 4

For a refreshing nonalcoholic drink, pour 2 Tbsp. shrub into a glass filled with ice and top off with club soda; stir gently to combine. Garnish with fresh berries and/or herb sprigs if desired.

Editor’s note: This shrub recipe was first printed in our June 2021 issue; it has been updated for style. Head this way for more of our best blueberry recipes →

Recipe notes