Rhubarb Shrub

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You've got to try making this rhubarb shrub, whether you use it in a cocktail or mocktail, it's a wonderful, fruity syrup that you can use in lots of drinks.

I'll also show you how to make my favorite rhubarb shrub cocktail using gin and ginger beer.

Making a shrub takes a few days, but it's super easy! It requires very little hands-on time and results in a very tasty, non-alcoholic syrup.

What's a Shrub?

A shrub is a combination of fresh fruit, sugar, and vinegar that marinates for a few days and results in a sugary, vinegar-based syrup. Shrubs are often used in cocktails, so a shrub might refer to a cocktail or a soft drink (mocktail).

Shrubs can be made with any kind of fruit, but berries are often used. They're great when paired with soda water, ginger beer, or lemonade. When mixing them into a cocktail, they pair well with gin, vermouth, sherry, and vodka.

The word shrub comes from the Arabic word sharab, which means 'to drink'.

Ingredients for a Rhubarb Shrub

To make this rhubarb shrub syrup you'll only need a few things. For shrubs, I always do 1 pound fruit, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup vinegar.

• Fresh Rhubarb - You'll need at least one pound of rhubarb. You'll want to cut this into smaller pieces, about ¼ inch is perfect.
• Sugar - You'll need 1 cup of granulated sugar. You could use another type of sweetener, but granulated sugar dissolves easily.
• Vinegar - You'll need 1 cup of vinegar. I used white vinegar but apple cider vinegar also works well in shrubs (it will change the color though).

More Cocktail Recipes to Try

If you like fruit cocktails, make sure to check out some of our other favorites.

• Fig & Blackberry Smash Cocktail - an easy cocktail with figs and blackberries
• Blood Orange Whiskey Sour - a beautiful cocktail with lots of citrus
• Ginger Lime Margarita - a kicky margarita with a lemongrass, ginger, and lime syrup

More Rhubarb Recipes to Try

Rhubarb is a wonderful (and pretty) spring and summer vegetable that acts like a fruit when it's baked or used with sugar. Here are some of our favorite ways to use it.

• Rhubarb Blueberry Galette - a gorgeous galette recipe with ripe rhubarb and blueberries
• Rhubarb Crisp - a zesty and sweet crisp with a nutty topping

Questions & Tips for Making Shrubs

Can you make a shrub with frozen fruit? Yes, you can absolutely make a shrub with frozen fruit. Let it defrost a little before adding the sugar.

Does a shrub have to be refrigerated? Technically no, once you've added the vinegar it should no longer need to be refrigerated. However, we still recommend it, just to be safe!

How long do shrubs last? Shrubs can last for up to 6 months in the refrigerator if you're not using them often. If you pull it in and out of the refrigerator and use it often, try to use it within 6 to 8 weeks.

Can you add herbs to a shrub? Yes, you can add herbs like mint and basil to a fruit shrub. Add them at the beginning with the fruit and sugar.

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