Name: Sour Cherry Shrub
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups sour cherries (destemmed and pitted); 1 cup turbinado sugar; 1 cup apple cider vinegar (or sub. champagne vinegar)

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Calling all cocktail, kombucha, preservers, and soda fans...I've got a sour cherry shrub that is sure to knock your socks off! Cocktail shrubs don't always use alcohol, and I've been loving an ice-cold shrub mocktail when I get home from work. Step by step photo instructions below...

Girl with red nails holding glass with red cocktail.

What is a shrub and how to use it...

A shrub is a vinegared syrup that is most commonly used in beverages. You can mix a shrub into cocktails or with water. I like to drink mine with sparkling water...it is almost kombucha-like, and I get to enjoy it as a fun, after work mocktail. I also use shrubs in these 4 ways:

Sour Cherry Shrub Mocktail: Add 1-2 tablespoon of the shrub to 1 cup of sparkling or flat water. Serve over ice.

Salad Dressings: Mix a little of the shrub with some olive oil, salt, and pepper to make a unique and delicious salad dressing. 1 part shrub, 3 parts olive oil.

Cocktails: Use the shrub instead of regular simple syrup.

Marinades: Mix a few tablespoons of the shrub into your marinade, or use the shrub as a glaze for meat & poultry.

How to make a shrub - with step by step photo instructions

I show how to pit the sour cherries in my recipe for sour cherry gin limeade.

Sour cherries in a black plate on concrete.

Muddle together the cherries and sugar. Let sit at room temperature for 2 hours.

Step by step muddling cherries with sugar.

Add the apple cider vinegar (photo 1). Muddle well (photo 2). Transfer to a quart-sized jar or container (photo 3). Cover and refrigerate for 2 days.

After the 2 days, open your jar and muddle again, very well (photo 1). Strain and discard the skins (photo 2). Use your hands to squeeze out as much of the shrub liquid as possible (photo 3). Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator (photo 4).

Step by step muddling and straining cherry shrub.

To enjoy a shrub mocktail, mix 1 tablespoon of the shrub with 1 cup of sparkling water. Serve over ice.

Girl holding dripping cherry over red cocktail.

Sour Cherry Shrub FAQ

Where do you find sour cherries? Try the farmers market or a middle eastern grocery store.
If you do not have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute for champagne vinegar.
The shrub can sit in the Calling all cocktail, kombucha, preservers, and soda fans…I've got a sour cherry shrub that is sure to knock your socks off! Cocktail shrubs don't always use alcohol, and I've been loving an ice-cold shrub mocktail when I get home from work. #mocktail #sourcherry #shrub #cocktail #vinegar for up to a week, so if you forget about it after the 2 resting days, it is OK.
A shrub does not have to be refrigerated but prefer to refrigerate them. They can last for years. I have some shrub in my refrigerator from a large batch I made two years ago and still use it regularly.
Save the discarded cherry skins. They are delicious in salads or grains like rice & farro. You can also use them as a relish over duck, grilled steak, or chicken!

Equipment used to make this sour cherry shrub

Shop my favorite mortar and pestle here!

You can preserve/can your shrub to enjoy the sour cherry season for years to come! PLEASE make sure you properly sterilize your containers and store them in a dark, cool place. Shop my favorite jars here!

Other sour cherry recipes you'll love

If it's Fall, you'd enjoy making this cranberry thyme shrub, or check out my other favorite beverages here.

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5 from 10 votes

Sour Cherry Shrub

Calling all cocktail, kombucha, preservers, and soda fans! I’ve got a sour cherry shrub that is sure to knock your socks off! Cocktail shrubs or drinking vinegars don’t always use alcohol, and you can use this sour cherry shrub either way!

Prep Time30 mins

Resting Time2 d 2 hrs

Total Time30 mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American, Persian

Servings:

Calories: 61kcal

Author: Candice

Equipment

▢
Mortar and Pestle

Ingredients

▢ 2 cups sour cherries destemmed and pitted
▢ 1 cup turbinado sugar
▢ 1 cup apple cider vinegar or sub. champagne vinegar

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Muddle together the cherries and sugar. Let sit at room temperature for 2 hours.
Add the apple cider vinegar. Muddle well. Transfer to a quart-sized jar or container. Cover and refrigerate for 2 days.
After the 2 days, open your jar and muddle again, very well. Strain and discard the skins. Use your hands to squeeze out as much of the shrub liquid as possible Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Notes

To enjoy a shrub mocktail, mix 1 tablespoon of the shrub with 1 cup of sparkling water. Serve over ice.

If you do not have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute for champagne vinegar.

The shrub can sit in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so if you forget it after the 2 resting days, it is OK.

Save the discarded cherry skins. They are delicious in salads or grains like rice & farro. You can also use them as a relish over duck, grilled steak, or chicken!

A shrub does not have to be refrigerated, but prefer to refrigerate them. They can last for years. I have a some shrub in my refrigerator from a large batch I made two years ago and still use it regularly. Be sure to use a sterile bottle and avoid contamination of the shrub.

Nutrition

Did you try this recipe?Don't forget to leave a rating and/or comment! And tag @ProportionalPlate on TikTok or Instagram... I'd love to see what you're making.

This post was originally published in August of 2018, but was republished with new photos, step by step instructions, and tips September of 2019.