Every aspiring mixologist should know about shrubs and how they can elevate a variety of co*cktails. No, we’re not talking about the bushes you have in your landscaping. We’re talking about sweet and sour syrups. If you’re a little newer to exploring your mixology skills, we’ve got you covered! Here’s a beginner’s guide on how to use shrubs in co*cktails or your favorite alcohol-free mixed drinks.
What Is a Shrub?
A shrub is a syrup made from sugar, fruit concentrates, vinegar, and aromatics. The best shrubs will use high-quality vinegar that isn’t distilled. Apple cider or balsamic are often the shrub vinegars of choice. The presence of vinegar makes these syrups different from your ordinary mixed drink sweeteners. Although they are an ingredient in many alcoholic beverages, shrubs themselves do not contain any alcohol.
When you have leftover fruit, making a shrub is a great way to not let them go to waste. In fact, shrubs were first created in the 18th century as a way to use fruit before it spoiled.
What Does Shrub Taste Like?
A lot of people can get scared away from the idea of drinking something with vinegar. Don’t be intimidated! 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. Because of the multi-dimensional nature of these syrups, shrub co*cktail recipes are easy to make and often require just a few ingredients.
So you know that shrubs taste quite delicious—but is drinking shrub good for you? It may surprise you to know that the answer is actually yes! Drinking vinegar comes with lots of health benefits. For example, vinegar is antibacterial which may help fight off mild sickness like a sore throat. It may also kill bad breath. If you’re drinking a shrub that contains apple cider vinegar, it could also help promote weight loss.
How to Use Shrubs in co*cktails
Although you certainly could try to make your own shrub, it’s just so much more convenient to purchase the syrup. Not only does Boisson sell the best nonalcoholic beverages on the market, but we also offer shrubs to help you make your best mixed drinks yet.
Whether you want to make an alcohol-free co*cktail or you want to include traditional alcohol in your co*cktail, there are so many great shrubs on the market that make mixology easy. Usually, it’s best to use shrubs in a drink that’s served over ice because more dilution leads to better flavor.
Unless you have a taste for things that are extra tart, you probably don’t want to try using a shrub in a co*cktail recipe that already has some kind of acidity present. For example, a whiskey sour using the 3/4 Oz Tonic Mason Honey Sour Syrup is an easy yet delicious shrub co*cktail recipe. All you need is two parts whiskey, one part honey sour syrup, and one egg white.
Best Shrub co*cktails Without Alcohol
If you go the alcohol-free route, all you really need is your shrub, some soda water, and some sort of refreshing sipper. Here are a few of our favorite nonalcoholic shrub recipes at Boisson!
is the perfect way to elevate iced tea or even a smoothie. These mixers are made from natural ingredients and this one in particular contains the finest clover honey, blueberry and lemon juice concentrates, and aromatic lavender.
Chai Pear Shrub from Element is packed with health benefits thanks to the presence of apple cider vinegar. It’s tart yet spicy because of the chai spice combination. It’s a delightful addition to lemonade!
Honeydew Jalapeno Shrub from Element is for the mixologist who loves being completely original. However, this shrub isn’t as spicy as you may think it is. The presence of the honeydew also makes it a bit more palatable. It pairs beautifully with grenadine and club soda!
Get Mixing with Shrubs from Boisson
Take your mixed drinks to the next level by trying out any of these shrubs very soon. Alcohol-free co*cktails containing shrubs are so good that your guests may think they’ve been transported to one of the finest bars in New York.
FAQs
Shrubs are plants with branches that grow near the stem. The stem of the shrub is tough but not particularly thick. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. Example- Tulsi, Rose.
What are shrubs explained? ›
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.
How can shrubs be used in the landscape? ›
Try planting shrubs (or one, depending on your space) this season to add interest to your garden year-round, create a dramatic statement, add privacy, or to build your own garden room. You will not only gain a beautiful focal point in your space, but will also provide food and shelter for birds and butterflies.
What is a shrub and examples? ›
A plant that is small to medium in size is known as a shrub. They are woody plants that lack a thick hard trunk and differentiated branches. They have large, broad leaves. Examples of shrubs are rose, henna, lemon, tulsi, jasmine, etc.
What is a shrub used for? ›
A shrub is a vinegar-based syrup that is used as a substitute for citrus in co*cktails to add intriguing, concentrated flavors. They are typically made with fruit or berries, though other ingredients are sometimes added for flavor.
What are shrubs good for? ›
Shrubs are an instrumental part of every garden's ecosystem. They provide shade, improve soil stability, enhance air quality and create habitats for all types of wildlife. Of course, shrubs and small trees are also beautiful to look at, especially when you choose varieties that add seasonal interest to your landscape.
What's the difference between a bush and a shrub? ›
The term bush is more often used as an adjective describing how shrubs grow than an actual plant. If multiple shrubs are planted close together, or a shrub grows round instead of straight up, they are considered a bush. Bushes are typically left to grow as nature sees fit unlike the yearly pruning shrubs require.
How long do shrubs live? ›
Typically, a shrub can live a healthy life of 10 to 15 years. Your shrub may exist beyond that time frame—possibly even for decades—but once it crosses 15 years, the health and aesthetic of the shrub will decline.
How do you use shrubs? ›
Shrubs are often seen on co*cktail menus but also make refreshing mocktails or zero proof drinks. Using a shrub can be as easy as mixing it with still water, tonic, sparkling water, and juice to make a thirst-quenching drink on a hot day or after working out.
What is the most common shrub? ›
Top 10 Most Popular Shrub Types
- Pink and Blue Hydrangea Flowers in the Garden.
- Azaleas.
- Beautiful rhododendrons.
- Lilacs.
- A Single Camellia.
- Forsythia yellow flowers in Spring full bloom.
- Rose of Sharon.
- Flowering Quince.
Environmental benefits: Shrubs improve air quality by filtering dust and pollutants. They also reduce erosion, thus reducing stormwater runoff and reducing toxic materials in the waterways. Reliability: Shrubs are reliable and easy to grow if planted in the right climate and soil conditions.
How long do shrubs last in the fridge? ›
Filled and tightly sealed in a jar, shrubs last about 6 months in the refrigerator if used sparingly. With more frequent use, similar to other condiments that are kept refrigerated, shrubs last 6-8 weeks.
Why is it called a shrub? ›
Strange name, I know, but it comes from the Arabic sharab – “to drink” (“Sherbet” and “syrup” also come from this Arabic root). Shrubs are concentrated fruit-infused vinegar syrups.
Is a shrub a living thing? ›
Like other living things, residential plants will eventually begin to die. The average shrub lifespan is typically 10 to 15 years. That's not to say that shrubs can't go on to live after that, but you may notice they could start to look subpar (no matter what you do).
What is a bush answer? ›
A bush is a large plant which is smaller than a tree and has a lot of branches. Trees and bushes grew down to the water's edge. Synonyms: shrub, plant, hedge, undergrowth More Synonyms of bush.
Which of the following are examples of shrubs? ›
Shrubs are medium-sized plants with bushy and hard stems with branches. Examples of shrubs are rose, lemon, henna, orange, etc.
What is a shrub on standard? ›
Tree-form shrubs, also known as standards, are specially trained to grow with a single “trunk” and a leafy “canopy” instead of their natural multi-stemmed habit.
