Strawberry Shrub Cocktail with Rosemary & Lemon

Late May and early June in South Central Pennsylvania means strawberry season! We bring plump, juicy berries picked by local farmers into our kitchen and work a little bit of magic to turn them into pantry staples that will last long after strawberry season passes. One way we transform our strawberries is by making shrub.

So what is shrub? Shrub, or drinking vinegar, is a concentrated fruit syrup made with simple ingredients. We make ours with organic apple cider vinegar, organic cane sugar, and local, sustainably grown fruit.

Like other methods of canning and preserving, storing fruit in barrels of sugar was a popular practice of keeping fruit from spoiling in colonial America when refrigeration wasn't available. Over time, the fruit would ferment, resulting in a fruited vinegar or shrub syrup. While their method differed slightly from modern shrub making (we add the vinegar in ourselves), the outcome is virtually the same.

Shrub isn't typically consumed on it's own, as it's very sweet. Instead it creates a refreshing, fresh, fruit-forward beverage mixed seltzer (that you'll be pleased to know kids love too!) or a crowd-pleasing cocktail mixed with your favorite spirit and seltzer or tonic.

For our easy, satisfying Strawberry Shrub Cocktail with Rosemary & Lemon (or mocktail) recipe, read on.

You'll Need:

- Ice cubes

- 1 small sprig of fresh rosemary (plus 2-3 for an optional garnish)

- 1 oz. dry gin or vodka (omit for a mocktail)

- 1-2 oz. Christina Maser Strawberry Shrub (adjust for your taste preference)

- 4-5 oz. tonic water (substitute with seltzer if you prefer)

- Fresh lemon juice to taste

- Fresh, thinly sliced strawberries (optional)

To Make the Cocktail:

1.  Muddle the a a few of the rosemary leaves, a squeeze of lemon, a few slices of strawberries, and strawberry shrub in the bottom of a cocktail shaker.

2. Add your spirit of choice and ice to above the liquid. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

3. Fill a rocks glass or tumbler halfway with ice. An emptied and cleaned Christina Maser Co. candle tumbler works wonderfully here.

4. Strain cocktail over ice. Top with tonic water.

5. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and thinly sliced strawberries if desired and enjoy!

You can purchase our Strawberry Shrub here.

Have you tried our Strawberry Shrub Cocktail with Rosemary & Lemon recipe? Leave a comment and let us know how it went. Or, share a photo with us on Instagram and tag us @christina_maser_co.