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A tangy blueberry shrub with garden basil and balsamic for an exciting summer beverage that can be served with (or without) alcohol.
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Warm weather definitely calls for refreshing sparkling drinks that can be served over lots of ice. I haven’t done a blueberry shrub previously, so it seemed an excellent use for the blueberries at the farmstand. Also, basil! I planted 5 different varieties this year including a new one I hadn’t seen before: Greek bush basil – it has super tiny leaves! I used primarily the Genovese and the purple basil in the shrub, but any standard variety works.
I do make this in the cold process method. If you are interested in making a shrub within a day another blogger I know has done several shrubs recently using the hot process method: Meg’s Orange Shrub.
This is a very syrupy shrub, you don’t add too much else for sweetness in a cocktail. The cocktail I made uses this fact – I was even able to add more acidic components. But at the same time, it’s still plenty acidic when used on its own with soda water.
Given how much I enjoy acidic sparkling drinks, I’m sure this is not the last shrub I will have for you.
Blueberry Basil Shrub
Ingredients
- 1 c/150g blueberries washed
- 1 c/30g loosely packed basil leaves
- 1 c/200g granulated sugar
- ½ c/120ml balsamic vinegar
- 1 c/240ml white wine vinegar
Instructions
- Muddle blueberries with sugar in a quart (or other large container)
- Coarsely chop basil and add to blueberry sugar mix.
- Stir in vinegars until sugar is distributed (it won’t completely dissolve).
- Cover and set in fridge for five days. Stir or otherwise agitate daily.
- At the end of 5 days strain into another container using a fine mesh strainer or a couple layers of cheese cloth. Press or squeeze to extract all liquid from the blueberries. Store in the fridge for up to one month.
Blueberry Basil Shrub Cocktail
Ingredients
- ¾ oz/22ml blueberry basil shrub
- 1 oz/30ml blanco tequila
- ½ oz/15ml lemon juice
- 2 dashes celery bitters
- 2 oz/60ml soda water
Glass:
- coupe
Garnish:
- 3 blueberries and lemon peel twist
Instructions
- Combine shrub, tequila, lemon juice, and bitters in a shaker and shake with ice.
- Double strain into a coupe. Top with soda water. Skewer blueberries and lemon twist and top on cocktail.
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