Cranberry Shrub

This Cranberry Shrub is a two-in-one recipe: a sweet-tart syrup made from fresh or frozen cranberries, sugar, allspice berries and apple cider vinegar, plus a bourbon cocktail that shows one way to use it. The syrup takes a short simmer on the stove and keeps in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks, so you can mix a drink whenever you want one.

You simmer cranberries with sugar, water and allspice berries until they pop, strain the syrup, then stir in apple cider vinegar. Mix it with bourbon, maple syrup and orange bitters for a spiced shrub cocktail, or with ginger ale or soda water for a mocktail. It's a good one to make ahead for holiday parties and New Year gatherings.

We host a lot over the holidays, so we like to have a few festive cocktails ready. If you want more holiday drinks, try our Grinch Cocktail or Jack Frost Cocktail.

What Is a Cranberry Shrub?

A shrub, sometimes called a drinking vinegar, is a fruit syrup made with sugar and vinegar. This one simmers cranberries with sugar, water and allspice berries, then finishes with apple cider vinegar for a sweet-tart, lightly spiced flavor. It's a mixer, so a small amount goes a long way in any cranberry shrub drink, from a bourbon cocktail to a mocktail with soda water.

Ingredients

This cranberry shrub recipe comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients.

See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.

• Cranberries: Fresh or frozen cranberries bring tartness and vibrant color.
• White Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the syrup and balances the cranberries and vinegar.
• Allspice Berries: Whole spices that add warmth to the shrub's profile.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: High-quality vinegar adds tang and depth.
• Bourbon: A warming base spirit that pairs well with cranberries.
• Maple Syrup: Lightly sweetens the cocktail.
• Orange Bitters: Adds complexity to the cranberry cocktail.

All you need is a cocktail shaker and a shot glass to measure. We shake ours, but if you don't have a shaker, you can stir everything with ice in a glass and strain it into your serving glass.

Variations

• Spiced Cranberry Shrub: Simmer a cinnamon stick or a few whole cloves with the allspice berries, or swap the allspice berries for black peppercorns for a different kind of depth.
• Sparkling Shrub Drink: Skip the bourbon and top the shrub with sparkling wine or soda water for a lighter cranberry shrub drink.
• Tequila and Lime Twist: Use tequila in place of the bourbon and add a squeeze of lime juice for a brighter shrub cocktail.
• Alternative Spirits: Replace the bourbon with gin, rum or vodka for a different cranberry shrub cocktail.
• Sweetener Swap: Try honey or brown sugar instead of granulated sugar for a richer flavor.
• Citrus Twist: Add fresh orange juice or garnish with fresh rosemary for a holiday-ready drink.

How to Make Cranberry Shrub

Make this shrub in just 3 steps, and you're ready to use it in a cocktail or mocktail.

Make your cranberry shrub by adding cranberries, water, sugar and all-spice berries into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Reduce to keep a low simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Lightly squish some of the cranberries as it cooks down.

Strain once or twice into a measuring cup or airtight container then pour in apple cider vinegar. Store in the fridge.

Make your cranberry shrub cocktail by adding ice to a cocktail shaker and pour in bourbon, cranberry shrub, maple syrup and a dash of orange bitters.

Shake until chilled and strain into a coup glass or a lowball glass with ice.

Make your cranberry shrub cocktail by adding ice to a cocktail shaker and pour in bourbon, cranberry shrub, maple syrup and a dash of orange bitters.

Shake until chilled and strain into a coup glass or a lowball glass with ice.

Hint: Cooked cranberries should pop without boiling too hard.

Recipe Tips

• Shaken: Shaking with ice chills the drink well.
• Glass: Serve it in a rocks glass for a classic look or a coupe for something a little more elegant.
• Garnish: Fresh rosemary, an orange slice or a few cranberries all work.
• Make Ahead: Let the shrub rest overnight in the fridge for the best flavor. Stored in an airtight container, it keeps for 3 to 4 weeks.
• Flavor Balance: Taste the shrub and adjust the sugar to match your preference.
• Make It a Mocktail: Swap the bourbon for a non-alcoholic bourbon alternative, or skip the spirit and stir the shrub into ginger ale or soda water.
• Storage: Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-4 weeks.

Around the holidays, we also love making a batch of Spiked Eggnog with Rum.

More Cocktail Ideas

How to Use Cranberry Shrub

• Mocktails: Stir some into ginger ale, soda water or cranberry juice for a sweet-tart drink with no alcohol.
• Cocktails: Shake it with bourbon, maple syrup and orange bitters, as in the recipe above.
• Sparkling Drinks: Top a splash with sparkling wine for an easy New Year's toast.
• Hot Drinks: Stir a spoonful into a mug of hot water for a cozy, spiced sip.
• Desserts: Spoon it over ice cream.
• Dressings: Whisk it with oil for a salad dressing.
• Glaze: Brush it over meat near the end of cooking.

Serving Suggestions

• Holiday Mains: Serve a shrub cocktail or mocktail alongside Honey Ham or Herb Butter Turkey.
• Sides and Desserts: Round out the table with Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots, Stuffing, Pumpkin Pie and Costco Pecan Pie.

Cranberry Shrub Recipe FAQs

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