Have you ever tried a cocktail shrub? When you hear what the ingredients are, it may sound a little unconventional. However, this beverage has been around for centuries. Once a way for colonial settlers to preserve their fruits, this age-old treat has become a decadent summer refreshment.
Until the age of the refrigerator, a shrub was a necessity in preserving fruit at home. Treats like berries or rhubarb were combined with apple cider vinegar and sugar, and left to infuse over the course of several days. This mixture was often referred to as “drinking vinegar.”
We would like to share with you one of our favorite shrub recipes, so that this summer you can beat the heat and enjoy a cocktail that has been around since the seventeenth century. We hope to see you in person this summer, and make sure to print the recipe so that you can still enjoy this delightful cocktail even if you don’t get a chance to stay with us.
Strawberry Rhubarb Shrub Spritzer
1 part strawberries, washed and cut
1 part rhubarb, washed and cut
1 part sugar
1 part apple cider vinegar
(What makes this recipe so simple is the ratio of ingredients – always use equal parts of everything to achieve the best flavor.)
Combine the fruit, vinegar, and sugar in a large container. Stir the ingredients together and let sit in the fridge. This mixture can infuse anywhere from 24 hours to a few days – the longer it sits, the more the flavor will develop. Once the mixture is done, strain out the excess fruit and you have a homemade shrub!
Now, if you would like to stop here, you can certainly enjoy the shrub with a splash of seltzer or even on its own. However, we want to show you how to make a shrub spritzer. Similar to a mimosa, this cocktail has two ingredients: the shrub, and Prosecco.
2 parts chilled Prosecco
1 part strawberry rhubarb shrub
In a flute glass, fill 2/3 full with chilled Prosecco. Top with a generous splash of your homemade shrub. Stir gently, and you have a delicious summer cocktail perfect for those humid nights we know so well in Maine.
Do you have a favorite summer cocktail recipe? We would love to hear yours, let us know if you got a chance to try our recipe in the comments below!
Enjoy!