It is blueberry season and today we share with you a wonderful cocktail/mocktail syrup that once you try, you will be making all summer long. Cocktail Shrubs come from colonial recipes that preserve fruit with sugar and vinegar in a sweet-tart syrup that can be added to water and soda for a refreshing, non-alcoholic beverage. When spiked with your favorite spirit, Shrubs lay the foundation for fantastic mouthwatering cocktails. The great part about Shrubs is once you start making them the sky is the limit with combinations of fruit and herbs, various types of vinegar and sugar. Today’s Shrub combines sweet fresh blueberries with the lovely aromatics in French Thyme (any culinary Thyme will do!). Whip up a batch of our Blueberry-Thyme Shrub and then try it with your favorite mixers or without alcohol for a summer soda treat the kids will love!
Blueberry-Thyme Shrub
In a medium saucepan add:
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup White Sugar
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then add:
Cover and simmer on a low heat for 15 minutes. Then add:
- 1/2 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar (we prefer Braggs non-distilled)
- 3 Tablespoons Fresh Thyme Leaves
Cover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Remove from heat, cool and strain syrup through a fine sieve. into a sterile glass bottle (discarding blueberries pulp and thyme). Shrub will keep 7-10 days in the refrigerator.
The Cocktail
In a tall Collins glass filled with ice add:
- 1 ½ Ounces of Your Favorite Spirit*
- 2 Ounces Blueberry-Thyme Shrub
Top with Club Soda. Stir and garnish with a sprig of thyme.
*We prefer light rum but have found it to work with vodka, gin, tequila and bourbon as well.
The Mocktail (the kids will love it!)
In a tall Collins glass filled with ice add:
- 2 ½ Ounces Blueberry-Thyme Shrub
Top with Club Soda. Stir and garnish with a sprig of thyme.
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