Caprese Shrub

the life changing mocktail hack for my alcohol-free friends

one of my biggest complaints in living an alcohol-free lifestyle is that most mocktails lack flavor complexity. i work really hard to make sure my drinks feel like more than just juice… which can be hard sometimes! that’s why learning how to make shrubs completely changed the game for me. shrub’s allow for so much creativity in mixology, especially if you’re using them in a drink without alcohol. if you can dream it, shrub can do it.

essentially, a shrub is equal parts vinegar and sugar… plus some other stuff, depending on the flavor profile you’re going for. you let it sit anywhere from a week to a month to allow the flavors to marinate. once it’s done, you strain it into a jar and add it to drinks! i prefer them in spritzes, but the options are virtually endless.

savory tomato cocktails are all the rage this summer and i wanted to add a mocktail into the mix. this caprese shrub has all the elements of classic caprese salad: tomatoes, basil, and even mozzarella!

learning how to make shrubs completely changed the AF lifestyle for me; once you get used to the vinegar forward taste you start to crave it all the time. plus, if you’re hosting friends who do drink, it’s just as simple to whip up a cocktail with a shrub as it is a mocktail. there’s so much versatility and it’s special to open something after letting it marinate for a week. hope you enjoy!

ingredients

1.5-2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes

1 large handful of basil

1/4 cup mozz water

1.25 cup granulated sugar

1 cup acv (or white vinegar)

sprinkle of flaky sea salt

method

to a large jar, add tomatoes, basil, fresh mozz water, and sugar. muddle until all of the sugar is dissolved and everything is crushed up and soupy. then, add apple cider vinegar and a sprinkle of salt. close your jar and place in the fridge for 5-7 days. when you’re ready to drink, strain out the solids (tomato, basil, etc) and add the liquid to a jar to store in the fridge (for up to a week or two!)

to make your mocktail: add ice to a glass. pour 3oz shrub over ice and top with sparkling water. garnish with mini caprese skewers and enjoy!