Recipes

New recipe – Raspberry Shrub Cocktail – Summer in a glass!

Raspberry Shrub AKA Summer in a glass!

Shrubs have a long history as a way to preserve fruit before it spoiled. Fruit that is too ripe to do anything else with is the perfect fruit to turn into a shrub. I have used rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries. All came out delicious additions to my cocktails! Next up will probably be peaches!

A shrub is basically drinking vinegar. Fruit and sugar are muddled together and left to sit in the fridge for a few days, in which, a syrup results. The solids are strained out, and the remaining syrup is mixed with vinegar. The recipe below is a guide. Most recipes call for more sugar and vinegar but I like the less is better approach and have had great success with the recipe below using only ½ cup of sugar and vinegar. But if you like it sweeter – add more sugar etc.. Enjoy!

For mixing in cocktails: Simply add about 1 ounce of Shrub and 1-2 ounces of your favorite spirit, my go to is Gin. Top with seltzer and ice. Garnish with additional raspberries if desired.

 

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Raspberries
  • ½-1 cup Unrefined Cane Sugar
  • ½-1 cup Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Instructions 

  1. LONG METHOD:
  2. Place the raspberries in a jar. Add the sugar and mash in with the berries using a muddler or wooden spoon. Place in the fridge and let sit for 2 days, shaking occasionally to help dissolve sugars. After two days, pour the mixture into a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to strain out the fruit syrup (alternatively, you can blend the whole mixture and then strain it through a sieve to get the most fruit and flavor out of it). Place the syrup back in a jar and mix with the vinegar. Place back in the fridge for 5-7 days. Shake syrup before using.

 

  1. SHORT METHOD:
  2. Place the raspberries and sugar in a saucepan, along with ½ cup of water. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat and let cool completely. Pour mixture into a blender, along with the vinegar. Blend until smooth. Run the mixture through a fine mesh sieve and discard solids. Place the syrup in a container and refrigerate for 5-7 days (or it can be used immediately).
  3. Mix 1 part syrup to 4 parts Vodka, Gin or sparkling water and pour over ice. You may like more or less syrup, depending on your preferences.

The mixture will stay good in your fridge for up to 30 days!

Strawberry Rhubarb Gin Fiz

Ingredients

For the simple syrup:

  • 5-6 strawberries (stems removed, halved/quartered)
  • 2 cups rhubarb (about 3 stalks, chopped)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 cups water

For the cocktail:

  • 1 tablespoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon) optional
  • 2 large mint leaves
  • 4 ounces strawberry rhubarb simple syrup
  • 3 ounces 2 Loons Gin
  • Ice
  • Club soda

Instructions

For the simple syrup:

  1. Add strawberries, rhubarb, sugar, and water to a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, or until fruit is broken down. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.
  2. Place a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer over a medium mixing bowl and pour strawberry rhubarb mixture into the cheesecloth or strainer. Use a wooden spoon to press down on the mixture to strain. Once you’ve extracted as much liquid as possible, store the remaining fruit pulp in the fridge for future use. Add the syrup to a bottle or jar to store.

For the cocktail:

  1. Add lemon juice and mint to a mortar and pestle and gently muddle the mint*. Pour lemon juice and mint into a cocktail shaker. Add syrup, gin, and ice and shake vigorously until combined.
  2. Add ice to two cocktail glasses. Pour cocktail evenly between the two glasses. Top it off with club soda and enjoy!

Barrel Aged Gin Old Fashioned

  • 1 1/2 ounces 2 Loons Barrel Aged Gin
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 1 sugar cube
  • few dashes of water
  • Garnish: Orange wheel, cherry

Muddle Bitters, sugar, orange wheel.  Pour Gin in  add a few dashes of water and garnish with orange slice and a cherry.

Bees Knees

Combine in a shaker. Shake, pour over ice, and garnish with lemon or lemon peel.

 

The Gin Basil Smash

In a shaker, muddle fresh basil in a small amount of Gin add rest of ingredients, shake with ice, strain and pour over ice. Garnish with basil or lemon. Cheers!