The time has come

[Saregama]

I went on a shrub spree a few years ago, and while my guests loved them in cocktails, I usually drank them in sparkling water or seltzer or even just chilled water because I sometimes have an allergic reaction to alcohol, and they were just lovely without.

I recommend the cold shrub method - Michael Dietsch has a good book on it, some of his recipes are available on the Internet to start.

My favorites were lemon (like a lemonade concentrate but more intense), orange (like a better orangina or aranciata), and blackberry (intense and almost savory). Then you can mix and match fruit and herbs and flavorings. Ginger is pretty fantastic in fall and winter.

[shrinkrap]

@Saregama

I went on a shrub spree

Me too, and it continues every summer.

Shrubs and fruit vinegars!

So I got two pinapples, I got some great ideas (thanks all!), …but God forbid I should throw away skin and core, and I’m off on a tangent. Wanted to park some ideas and get some input. Love Thing Pinapple Vinegar Serious Eats Cold Processed Shrub the kitchn how to make a fruit shrub syrup fermented food lab-how to make raw pineapple vinegar Cooks Info- Pineapple Vinegar Pop Science -Making Vinegar at home I used up my home made cider vinegar, and “mother”, but have Lalvin Dried Wine …

[Saregama]

Found this older list I wrote:

Your favorite recipes of non alcoholic mixed drinks?

I like a base that can be mixed with alcohol, or not. If “or not” then usually soda/seltzer or something a little more interesting than plain water helps make it a party drink. As with @mig I learned to make shrubs a few years ago (cold method - iirc @shrinkrap has a couple of threads going), and love them for these types of things. I will say though that for a non-alcoholic drink, you do have to be much more careful about the type of vinegar or it can be overwhelming. My favorite shrubs so fa…

And this from my original spree:

Homemade flavored water

I’m a recent convert to shrubs. Made a bunch this summer and drank them mostly in sparkling water or just plain cold water. Also superb in cocktails. I’ve tried ginger, fennel, watermelon-lime, mango-pepper, lemon, and orange so far. All using a cold method rather than the boiled method. Really lovely, and a big crowd pleaser.

And here’s the method and a few ideas from the “shrub guy”:

how to make shrubs {aka drinking vinegars} | 3 refreshing recipes - holly +...

Cold-Processed Shrub Recipe

[Harters (John Hartley - a culinary patriot, cooking and eating in northwest England)]

@Phoenikia

These Seedlip mocktails and non-alcoholic spirits are becoming more popular in Canada

Seedlip is increasingly available in the UK. Perfect with Fever Tree tonic for a faux G & T.

[Phoenikia]

Rhubarb Juice Recipe

[mts]

I’m looking forward to my rhubarb late this summer!

[linguafood (Natascha)]

I am obsessed with this German drink, and get my fill every summer.

Getränke Breitsameter oHG | fritz-spritz bio-rhabarberschorle

Tart, delicious. super-refreshing. Otherwise, I’m pretty much a rhubarb hater.

[paprikaboy (Chris)]

I’ve been more mindful of my alcohol intake of late. I have found most no alcohol beers disappointing and so have favoured 2-3 % ABV IPA’s instead of the standard no alcohol Lager variety. One no alcohol drink I do like is kombucha made with hops. This is a particular favourite.

[honkman]

@paprikaboy

no alcohol Lager variety.

You don’t have to rely on NA lagers as there are more and more NA IPA on the market now which actually don’t taste bad, like Free Wave (Athletic), Just the Haze (Sam Adams), Juicy IPA (Untitled Art) or IPNA (Lagunitas) to name a few

[CCE (Keyrock the unfrozen caveman lawyer; your world frightens & confuses me)]

One big benefit is that you can make it at home for about 1/10 the cost of buying.