It’s apple season and the market is bursting with beautiful, fresh fruit. One way to enjoy the apple bounty is by making this Cinnamon Apple Shrub.

Shrubs were popular in Colonial times and basically consist of an infusion of fruit in vinegar combined with a sweetener. They are a unique flavor enhancer for cocktails and sodas and can be the base for various celebratory drinks.

Shrubs are often topped with either sparkling water, ginger ale, or any clear soda. Combine 1 ounce of shrub with 5 to 6 ounces of water or soda over ice for an easy beverage.

And recently, shrubs have become a popular cocktail ingredient. The best way to experience shrubs is to experiment. You can start with our Apple Shrub Cocktail recipe. They’re wonderful once you get the hang of it.

Cinnamon Apple Shrub Recipe

Ingredients
2 cups finely chopped apples. We recommend using a variety such as Macintosh, Gala, Gravenstein, and Honeycrisp
1 cup Turbinado sugar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
4 cinnamon sticks, crushed
1 nutmeg, cracked
5 cloves

Directions
Finely chop the apples and add them to a container with the sugar and spices. Let them macerate for 3 days. Add the apple cider vinegar and mix together. Strain the apples from the liquid and decant into a nice bottle.

Store in the refrigerator up to a year when not in use.

The Apple Shrub Cocktail
Yields 1 cocktail

Ingredients
1 1/2 ounce whiskey (we used Jack Daniels)
1 ounce cinnamon apple shrub
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 dash Angostura bitters

Directions
Add all the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish.