Shrubs, Switchel, & Vinegar-Based co*cktails — HOLLOW LEG | Chicago Mixology Classes | Chicago co*cktail Classes (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a switchel and a shrub? ›

Switchel is similar to shrub, but instead of using fruit as a base, it uses ginger as the main flavouring agent, and is usually sweetened with richer sugars (i.e. molasses or maple syrup), and can sometimes include spices in the mix. It is drank alone, or added to soda water or co*ckails.

In a nutshell, shrubs are a vintage mixer combining plants, sugar and vinegar. They offer a change from the usual Lemons and Limes used to add acidity to a drink but they are a world away from sugary, over-sweet juices.

In terms of drinks, a shrub is a non-alcoholic syrup made of a combination of concentrated fruits, aromatics, sugar, and vinegar. This sweet, yet acidic mixer is traditionally enjoyed as a component of a mixed drink with soda water.

What is the difference between a shrub and kombucha? In a nutshell, shrubs are fruity concoctions of fruit, sugar, and vinegar without the fermentation process, while kombucha is a fermented tea drink enriched with probiotics, thanks to the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY).

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries as a 'cure all' to heal various things from calming indigestion, soothing heartburn, lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss. We know you will find our Shrub blends much more palatable than taking straight vinegar, yet still amazing for your overall health.

Recently, switchel has made a comeback, with numerous companies making bottled versions and homemade recipes appearing online. The beverage is touted to have numerous benefits, including improved gut health, electrolyte replenishment during exercise, and blood sugar stabilization.

Shrubs are vinegar-based, which means they have a very long shelf life. We say that our shrubs are good by two years from production time. They will last longer, and it's not harmful to enjoy them after the “good by” date, but the flavors might change and the color won't be as bright over time.

White or red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, even a bit of balsamic vinegar make for special shrub combinations. Lastly, you can use any variation of sugar you prefer—give demerara sugar or raw honey a try. You've prepared your shrub… what now?

Bitters are made with a pure grain spirit inundated with bittering agents like fruit peels, spices, or funky stuff like bark or cassia. Tinctures act as straight-up botanical, fruit, or vegetable infusions without any bitterness. A shrub adds sugar to fruit juice and uses vinegar to cut the sweetness.

Today's drinking shrubs evolved from 17th century England, when vinegar was used to preserve fruit and berries for the winter. This practice was brought overseas to America by new immigrants. By the 19th century, shrub recipes called for pouring vinegar over fruit, and allowing the mixture to steep for a few days.

Why is it called a shrub? ›

Etymology. The term "shrub" is borrowed from the Arabic word sharāb meaning "to drink".

If your tastebuds get excited by tart things, you'll love shrubs. Just like any good co*cktail, a shrub is a mix of sour and sweet. You could try using them in place of a sweetener in your favorite co*cktail to add not only sweetness but also create a more complex flavor profile.

Fermented foods also contain probiotic bacteria, which may improve digestion. At the same time, fermented foods are no alternative to taking a high-quality probiotic supplement. Probiotic supplements are more targeted and effective. There's also a lot more scientific evidence for the health benefits of probiotics.

Kombucha and other fermented foods are full of antioxidants and probiotics, or live bacteria, that boost the health of intestinal cells, improve immune function and aid in food digestion. “They make the body more efficient,” said Braxton.

Both drinks are very healthy, but they support the body in different ways. While kombucha is rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals, kefir water contains over 30 different strains of beneficial bacterias and yeast; these probiotics survive gastrointestinal conditions and improve gut health.

While shrub and bush are often used interchangeably, a bush describes the way a shrub or other plant grows. A shrub is a woody plant with several stems, and it is a bush when it grows densely and closer to the ground.

A shrub or bush is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, less than 6–10 m (20–33 ft) tall.

Nobody wanted to throw out the tainted rum, so the Cornish developed Shrub, a sweet, spiced, complex liqueur that could be mixed with the rum to mask the taste of the saltwater.