Capsaicin Free Classic Berry Shrub
Shrubs — the old-fashioned drinking vinegar syrups that bartenders and home cooks are rediscovering — are one of the most refreshing things you can make with a handful of fruit and a little patience. This berry version layers the natural sweetness of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries with apple cider vinegar for a tangy, complex syrup that tastes far more sophisticated than the effort involved. The slow maceration process does most of the work for you: two days in the fridge and the sugar draws out a gorgeous, jewel-toned liquid that you simply strain and bottle. For anyone who needs to avoid capsaicin, this kind of drink is genuinely hard to find ready-made, since many commercial shrubs and flavored sparkling beverages sneak in chili or pepper extracts for a trendy kick — here, every single ingredient is straightforward and heat-free. Splashed over ice and topped with sparkling water, it becomes a bright, bubbly sipper that feels like a proper craft cocktail without a drop of alcohol or a single ingredient to second-guess. A sprig of fresh mint on top makes it look like something you'd pay twelve dollars for at a rooftop bar. Keep a jar in the fridge and you'll find yourself reaching for it all week.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 cups fresh mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries), hulled and halved if large
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
For serving
- sparkling water, for serving
- ice, for serving
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the berries and sugar in a medium bowl. Use a muddler or the back of a fork to crush the berries thoroughly, releasing their juice and working the sugar into the fruit until a wet, jammy mixture forms.
- 2
Stir in the kosher salt, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a glass jar. Refrigerate for at least 48 hours, stirring or shaking once or twice, until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture has released a deep, syrupy liquid.
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