BLACKBERRY SHRUB-A-DUB-DUB

There’s something wonderfully satisfying about a well made homemade fruit shrub…especially when mixed perfectly with your favorite spirit, a bit of citrus, club soda, and backyard mint. It’s the quintessential summer drink - and it runs a line of reaction from the back of the cheeks all the way to the top of the tummy - MMMM, refreshing.

This Metrobilly version of a Blackberry Shrub is relatively easy to make, it simply takes some time to complete from start to finish, about 10 days to be exact. We’re serving ours with fresh mint, but feel free to experiment with different herbs such as rosemary and thyme…even during the waiting period while chilling in the fridge in a jar.

Keep in mind, your BLACKBERRY SHRUB-A-DUB-DUB should taste both sweet and tart but not overwhelming. We hope you like it as much as we do - Cheers!

BLACKBERRY SHRUB-A DUB-DUB

SERVES 4 TO 6 | PREP TIME 10 to 14 DAYS

INGREDIENTS

12 oz. blackberries, sliced

1½ cups granulated sugar

1 cup red wine vinegar

WHAT WE NEED TO SIP

Club soda

Bottle of good quality gin or vodka (we prefer Calamity Gin or NUE vodka)

Fresh blackberries, lemon, orange, and mint

TECHNIQUE

Carefully mash together blackberries in a medium bowl with a fork. Transfer to a mason jar, add sugar, and stir to combine. Seal the jar and allow berry mixture to sit at room temperature, until berries are soft and sugar is dissolved, about 2 days.

Strain fruit mixture through a fine-mesh sieve ) into a medium bowl; discard berry and sugar pulp. Scrape any undissolved sugar left in jar into bowl.

Add red wine vinegar to syrup and stir to combine. Taste shrub and add more sugar or vinegar, if necessary. Pour shrub into a separate, clean jar; cover, seal tightly with lid and chill for about 10 to 14 days.

Do ahead: Shrub can be made 6 months ahead. Keep chilled.

ASSEMBLY

We love 2 ounces of gin or vodka stirred together with a 1/2 ounce of the shrub, lemon or orange squeezes, fresh mint…then poured over crushed ice with a s splash of club sodas. It’s also great as a mocktail - simply omit the alcohol and add just a bit more club soda. Garnish both with blackberries, citrus wedge, and fresh mint.