I am not usually one for making fancy cocktails, but shrubs are dear to my heart. I have made them on my own before (although that is usually a summertime project) and was delighted to see that we started carrying some of INNA shrub mixes - you might recognize them for their fantastic jams that we carry.

Shrubs have three main ingredients: fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Historically, they were made as a way to preserve fruit, plus there’s the bonus health benefits of drinking vinegar (look it up, people have been doing it for ages!)

We carry a few different INNA shrub flavors but I opted for grapefruit, as that is one of my favorite flavors in general, plus I had some blood oranges at home to pair it with. Shrub cocktails (or mocktails) are super easy and customizable. I made mine with gin, but you can also add it to white wine to make a grapefruit aperitif, tequila for a grapefruit shrub paloma, (insert your alcohol of choice here), or hold the alcohol and just add it to seltzer water for a bright refreshing drink.

No, it doesn’t taste too much like vinegar. Yes, it is delicious and great with herbs.

I know I’m supposed to give you a complete recipe here, but it’s really just “add splashes until you like the taste”. Here’s what I made: