The Shrub Is the Simplest Sour Drink You Can Make

The next time you're reaching  for a lime or a lemon to add to a cocktail, consider making a shrub instead, suggests Erin Healy, beverage director of Gramercy Tavern in New York City.

What is a shrub?

Shrubs are concentrated, vinegar-based syrups that have been either infused with or made from flavorings like fruit, flowers, and chiles. Shrubs have been around for centuries and were originally created to preserve herbs and roots by turning them into edible tinctures. They contain no alcohol, and their silky weight—similar to the texture of amaros and liqueurs — also brings body and depth to non-alcoholic cocktails, a segment of the drinks industry that was an early adopter of the vinegar-based syrup. More recently, shrubs are enjoying a renaissance on cocktail menus around the country, as bartenders use them to bring brightness and acidity to boozy drinks.

“A shrub opens up a whole new dynamic set of flavor profiles to bring to a cocktail outside of the traditional lemon, lime, or grapefruit,” says Healy. And a little goes a long way. “We never use more than a scant quarter-ounce of vinegar in a cocktail that may otherwise take up to an ounce of citrus to create balance.”

Shrubs can be flavored with just about anything, from chile and strawberry to vegetables (like the celery-flavored shrub below from NYC bar Katana Kitten’s owner and self-proclaimed “director of deliciousness” Masahiro Urushido). Don’t care to make your own? Try one of our favorite cocktail-ready bottled shrubs.

3 top-shelf shrubs to try

Kosterina Crushed Strawberry Vinegar

The essence of strawberry captured in a bottle, Kosterina’s sweet and tangy strawberry vinegar is made of white wine vinegar from Greece. Mix it with smoky mezcal to bring out the roasted berry notes, or add it to an herbaceous gin & tonic.

Pink House Alchemy Pineapple Rosemary Shrub

Sweet pineapple is balanced by tart vinegar and woody rosemary in this unexpected Pink House Alchemy shrub from Fayetteville, Arkansas. It makes a great addition to a piña colada on the rocks, or sip it solo with some seltzer.

Acid League Citrus Saffron Syrup

Vinegar brand Acid League’s recently launched Ultimate Cocktail Kit includes this shrub, which combines fragrant saffron with two types of vinegar: plantain and orange. It pairs perfectly with sweeter spirits like rum or brandy.

How to make a shrub