Sour Cherry Shrub Soda

A drinking-vinegar shrub of sour cherry and apple cider vinegar mixed with soda — tart, fruity, and more interesting than it sounds.

Sour Cherry Shrub Soda cocktail made with none, served in a rocks glass
Base
none
Glassware
Rocks glass
Flavor Profile
soursweetrefreshing

Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz sour cherry shrub (combine 1 cup sour cherry juice, 0.5 cup apple cider vinegar, 0.5 cup sugar; stir until dissolved; refrigerate 1 week)
  • 4 oz soda water
  • Sour cherry on a pick, to garnish

Instructions

  1. 1Fill a rocks glass with ice.
  2. 2Add sour cherry shrub.
  3. 3Top with soda water and stir briefly.
  4. 4Garnish with a sour cherry on a cocktail pick.

Origin & Story

Colonial America, traditional

Shrubs — fruit preserved in vinegar and sugar — are one of the oldest non-alcoholic beverages in American history, originally used to preserve summer fruits before refrigeration. Bartenders rediscovered them in the craft cocktail renaissance for their unique ability to add tartness, sweetness, and depth all at once. A good shrub soda needs nothing else.