Cranberry Shrub with a Cocktail and a Mocktail

I am a huge fan of shrubs. I love taking fruit, adding sugar and vinegar, and turning it into a magical elixir you can use to make cocktails or mocktails at home. The first shrubs I fell in love with were from the Twisted Shrub, and from there, I have taken to Sharab Shrubs and Sweethaven Tonic, all made in the Twin Cities.

Try using this Cranberry shrub in the cocktail or mocktail recipe below, or if you are feeling lazy, add them to Prosecco, Cava, or Grapefruit LaCroix with a sprig of Rosemary. Cheers

Cranberry Shrub

Yield: 4 cups

Cranberry Shrubs are very versatile for Holiday Cocktails and Mocktails

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Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 1/4 cups fresh cranberries
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cloves
• 1 orange peel
• 2/3 cup vinegar

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the water, cranberries, sugar, coles, and orange peel until the mixture starts to boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a very gentle simmer until the cranberries are completely soft, about 8 minutes
2. Remove from heat and pass the cranberries through a mesh strainer, letting the liquid drain into a bowl. Press down on the cranberries to extract as much juice as possible without getting any solids into the shrub
3. Reserve the mash for Cranberry Orange bread
4. Add the vinegar to the cranberry syrup and transfer the shrub into a bottle or jar, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use. The shrub mixture can be kept for several months in the refrigerator.

Notes

Mocktail Recipe:

To make a non-alcoholic cranberry shrub beverage, add 2 tablespoons of cranberry shrub to a tumbler. Fill three-quarters full with crushed ice, a slice of orange, and fill with sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of Rosemary.

Cocktail Recipe:

To make a Cranberry Orange Shrub Cocktail, fill a cocktail shaker halfway full of ice. Add 3/4 ounces of shrub and 1.5 ounces of Vodka, 1 oz of Cointreau Orange Liquor, and three drops of orange cocktail bitters. Shake until well-chilled, then pour in a cold glass. Garnish with leftover cranberries skewed on a toothpick or a strip of orange zest.

Loaded Cranberry Cosmo:

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 3/4 ounce Cointreau
• 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 ounce cranberry shrub
• Garnish: lime wedge

Mocktail Recipe:

To make a non-alcoholic cranberry shrub beverage, add 2 tablespoons of cranberry shrub to a tumbler. Fill three-quarters full with crushed ice, and a slice of orange, and fill with sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of Rosemary.

Cocktail Recipe:

To make a Cranberry Orange Shrub Cocktail, fill a cocktail shaker halfway full of ice. Add 3/4 ounces of shrub and 1.5 ounces of Vodka, 1 oz of Cointreau Orange Liquor, and three drops of orange cocktail bitters. Shake until well-chilled, then pour in a cold glass. Garnish with leftover cranberries skewed on a toothpick or a strip of orange zest.