Shrub cocktails, once known as drinking vinegars, have been around since the 17th century in England. This vintage cocktail is making a comeback and I am loving this flavor combination. It’s refreshing and light with just a touch of earthiness!
Originally, vinegar was used to preserve fruit and berries for the winter and would allow it to steep for a few days. Next, they would strain out the solids and mix them with a sweetener and add it to water, soda water, or cocktails. They fell out of favor with the invention of refrigeration until recently with a revival of old-fashioned drinks. You know how much I adore a great vintage find!
Why We Love This Recipe
This is a go-to cocktail for any occasion! The combination of sour, sweet, and spice is so invigorating to your palette. You can use any fruit you like, but I prefer to use grapefruit for mine.
To really elevate your drinking game use pretty glass stemware and garnish with additional fresh rosemary sprigs and grapefruit rind twists. Who wouldn’t be excited to have one of those shrub cocktails handed to you while at a party?!?
Table of contents
Shrub Cocktail Ingredients
- Grapefruit: A powerful antioxidant full of vitamin C with a sour-sweet flavor.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The vinegar is what makes this a shrub cocktail! There are several health benefits to drinking apple cider such as blood sugar control, weight management, and lowering cholesterol.
- Brown Sugar: The sweetness of the sugar helps balance out the sour flavors of the grapefruit and vinegar.
- Rosemary: The subtle pine flavor pairs beautifully with grapefruit and gin.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Shrub Cocktail
- Start by cutting the grapefruits into quarters, and washing and drying your rosemary.
- Combine the sugar, grapefruit (make sure to give it a squeeze so some juice goes into the pot), apple cider vinegar, and rosemary in a small saucepan and simmer on low heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- Let the mixture cool and store it in a sealable mason jar for up to one week.
- In a cocktail shaker mix 1.5 oz of gin or vodka with equal parts shrub mix. (I love gin for this one!)
- Shake and serve over ice with a grapefruit twist or a sprig of rosemary as garnish.
Tip: You can easily make this into a mocktail by using sparkling water instead of alcohol!
Tips for Success & FAQs
Like always, you’ll want to use grapefruits that are at their peak for the best flavor. The same goes for fresh rosemary! Don’t forget to squeeze the grapefruit to incorporate some juice into the syrup.
Cooking the simple syrup on low heat helps the brown sugar dissolve completely without scorching the mixture. Steeping the rosemary in the heat infuses the flavor of the rosemary into the syrup.
Absolutely! We love how grapefruit pairs with rosemary but you can swap the grapefruit for oranges, lemon, or any fruit juice. The main ingredient that makes a cocktail a shrub drink is the addition of vinegar to the simple syrup. Other great fruit and herb combinations are blueberry and mint, cherry and thyme, ginger and pear, peach and rose, and persimmon and lavender.
Well….if you make the mocktail version you could claim some health benefits! Apple cider vinegar has several proven benefits such as reducing blood sugar spikes, lowering cholesterol, having anti-bacterial properties, and helping with digestion.
Tip: For additional health perks, swap the brown sugar with honey!
More Recipes for you to Try
Speaking of my favorite citrus cocktails, you’ll want to try my hugo cocktail or spicy paloma next! They are absolutely delicious and are sure to impress your guests.
If you’re hosting a light lunch with some friends serve this strawberry spinach salad and lemon thyme cake alongside your shrub cocktails/mocktails for a perfectly sweet trio!
The Recipe
Grapefruit Shrub Cocktail
Ingredients
- 2 Grapefruits quartered
- 1 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
- Gin Vodka, or Sparkling Water
Instructions
- Combine the sugar, grapefruit (give the grapefruit a squeeze so some of the juice goes into the pot!), vinegar, and rosemary in a small saucepan and simmer on low heat until dissolved about 15 minutes.
- Let cool. Save in a sealable mason jar for up to one week.
- In a cocktail shaker, mix 1.5 oz of gin or vodka with equal parts shrub mix. Or use sparkling water for a mocktail!
- Shake and serve over ice with a grapefruit twist or sprig of rosemary.
