The easiest way to add shrubs to your cocktail menu
In the last 10 years the use of shrubs in cocktails has made a long awaited comeback, a mere 350 years in the making. But what are they? First created in 17th century England, shrubs offered a way to preserve the freshness of seasonal fruit using vinegar. The practice made its way to 19th century America during the “Golden Age” of the cocktail where it was fine-tuned and added to mixed drinks, creating rich and complex fruit flavours. Considering the quality of the liquor floating around at that time, it would have been something of a god-send.
The traditional method for creating shrubs has changed very little since then. Fresh fruit is steeped in vinegar, left to infuse for up to a week, then strained and blended with sugar. There is plenty of room for variation in this recipe using different fruit and vinegars along with herbs and spices for extra flavour.
For an easier way to introduce shrubs into your drinks, the Bristol Syrup Company range features a Raspberry Shrub and Strawberry Shrub cocktail syrup. Our Great Taste Award winning Raspberry Shrub syrup is made with real raspberry juice and apple cider vinegar to deliver a fantastically diverse syrup, with jammy raspberry flavour. The Strawberry Shrub recipe boasts real strawberry juice, apple and balsamic cider vinegars and a touch of black pepper. It’s a deliciously fruity syrup with wonderful depth, perfect for pairing with dark spirits. It also an award-winner, being crowned with a Gold Taste of the West Award earlier this year! Both syrups are ideal for creating an on-trend twist to classic cocktails or bring a level of complexity to non-alcoholic options. Just 10-20ml transforms a drink, giving between 35 to 75 serves per 75ml bottle. Without the need for any fresh ingredients or time spent prepping, it really is the simplest, quickest way to add shrubs to your drinks menu.
Our Shrub Old Fashioned is the perfect example of a new take on a time-honoured classic. Try the recipe below or find more cocktail inspiration via the product pages linked below…
Old Fashioned
10ml Raspberry Shrub or Strawberry Shrub syrup
50ml whisky
2 dash Angostura bitters
2 dash orange bitters
Stir and serve over block ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
To find out more about stocking our syrups in your establishment please email greg@bristolsyrupcompany.com