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The hallmark of a good cocktail is balance. Bringing together multiple ingredients and flavors to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Balancing sweetness, bitterness, acidity etc. to make something not just palatable but delicious. A handy ingredient for creating depth of flavor while retaining balance is shrubs. Shrubs are drinking vinegars which were originally used as a means of preserving delicate fruit flavors for consumption out of season before the existence of modern refrigeration. They’re fruity and sweet with an acidic bite that can be used to create light-weight refreshing spritzes or weighty spirit-driven tipples with dynamic acidity.

Raspberry Sage Shrub
16oz – Raspberries
16oz – Granulated Sugar
16oz – Water
2 Sprigs Fresh Sage
16oz – Champagne Vinegar

In a pot over medium heat, combine first 3 ingredients and bring to a boil stirring gently. Reduce heat to a simmer and add sage leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain to remove solids. Return to heat and add vinegar; simmer for 2 minutes. Bottle and keep refrigerated.