You’ve heard of taking a shot of apple cider vinegar for your health, but what about taking a shot of alcohol with your apple cider vinegar? It might sound a bit mouth-puckering to the uninitiated, but vinegars, especially in the form of shrubs—syrups made from equal parts vinegar, sugar, and fruit, flowers, vegetables, or herbs—have recently become a cocktail mainstay, right up there with bitters, amaro, and tonic water.
At enRich Bistro, 5629 Manatee Ave. W., chef/owner Rich Knowles uses shrubs in cocktails, marinades and dressings.
"It makes the flavor bright and bold without using artificial flavorings," Knowles said. "It's a fresher, healthier way of adding flavors to cocktails."
"Vinegar has a marvelous history in health tonics of all types. In my first book, Apothecary Cocktails: Restoratives from Yesterday and Today, I discovered that mixing vinegar, fruit and sugar together is more than just a flavorful treat."
"HAVE YOU COME across any great shrubs this summer? Not the small bushes, but the vinegar-fruit syrup that is, shall we say, cropping up in cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks alike. Who would drink vinegar? People have been doing it for thousands of years, even though it might seem like the latest trend in a glass."
"Apple cider vinegar is having a bit of a moment right now. It’s popping up in health food recipes everywhere online, and wellness gurus are sharing their love for the liquid all over social media. Fans claim it can help with a number of ailments, including upset stomachs, colds, and dandruff. Some even go as far as to say it can ward off cancer and heart disease."