Most conversations about shrubs go like this.
“Wait, like the green bushy things that grow in the ground?”
“No, it’s a drink.”
“A leafy drink?”
“No, it’s actually just three ingredients — fruit, sugar, and vinegar…”
“Wait, you drink vinegar? Why would you drink vinegar?”
“Well, we love sour things like lemon and lime in drinks, they complement sweet flavors…”
“So there’s booze in this?”
“… Sometimes. Sometimes it’s just a soda.”
“Well, that sounds nice.”
[Note: They are being polite.]
Vinegar — basically what grapes turn into once they age past wine, see my fridge door at any time for an example — has been around since ancient times, as has the concept of drinking vinegars. Vinegar was used to sterilize unclean water, and was consumed in biblical times when wine was forbidden. Later in England, it was used to preserve fruit and Colonial Americans took the technique over with them. Pouring some of vinegar off the fruit and mixing it with things like soda, wine, or booze makes for some delicious drinks, far more complex than your average lemonade. But please don’t mistake me for an expert on shrubs, however; everything I know I learned from this fantastic book.
[If you like to make connections, the author, Michael Dietsch, is the husband of Jennifer Hess, whose tomato and provolone sandwiches got me back into the kitchen when I thought I’d never cook again after our second kid, and would be so good tonight, don’t you think?]
This drink isn’t really a true shrub, however, although it toys with the idea. It’s more of a Starter Shrub or a Shrub Lite, and I made it last summer as a way to make good use of the peaches I couldn’t resist that the market that would go soft after a day. Thinly sliced and macerating them with sugar and the tiniest bit of apple cider vinegar (instead of the lemon or lime I’d usually use) overnight (or at least a few hours) turned them into something complex and unforgettably delicious. From there — inspired by a delicious drink I’d had when staying at this charming B&B while I was in town for this wedding — I muddled them in the bottom of a glass with some mint and poured some bourbon and ginger beer [a non-alcoholic drink] over them and it was one of the most delicious cocktails I’ve ever had.
It’s been torture to wait this long before telling you about it, especially because many of the photos include my daughter stealing ice cubes in the background, cracking me up — we went on vacation the next week and when we came back, peach season was over and I didn’t want to torment you with something so much better with good peaches. Let’s make them every weekend for the rest of the summer to make up for lost time, okay?
Bourbon Peach Smash
- 1 large very ripe peach, pitted, very thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 to 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- A few macerated peach slices
- 3 to 4 fresh mint leaves
- Ice
- 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) syrup from peaches
- 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) bourbon
- Splash of chilled seltzer or ginger beer
Fruit
Assembly, per drink
To make a cocktail: Use a fork to remove a few macerated peach slices from syrup and place in the bottom of a glass (ours are 8.75 ounces) with a few mint leaves. Muddle them together, smashing them into smaller pieces. Add syrup from peaches and bourbon and stir. Add ice cubes and finish with seltzer or ginger beer.
Oh man… The only thing I don’t like about this is that I just used all of my overripe peaches yesterday in your crispy peach cobbler! (Which was delicious, especially with a few blueberries tossed in and some bourbon on the side.) Looks like I definitely know what is happening with our next round of peaches next week!
YUM! And we’re going peach picking this weekend. How do you think this would be with gin/vodka/tequila? Just one of them, not all! Thank you!!
I think any booze you’d like with these flavors would work.
Thanks- going to try this weekend, I’ll let you know!
I made some peach shrub last week and we had it with vodka and seltzer over plenty of ice, no mint. “More, please!” my friends said.
You have my grandma’s ice cube trays! Much cuter though, with the little hand sneaking into the photo 😍
Were hers a total nightmare to crack? I love them because they’re the only ones (vs. silicone or plastic) that don’t get a freezer-y smell after a while but it’s such a fight to get the cubes loose.
Deb, I grew up doing ice duty for the fam with trays just like this. I turned them upside down and ran tap water over the bottom of the trays for a few seconds before cracking and that usually did the trick. Nothing works as well as these old metal ones!
Thanks. I just don’t think mine is as well made as they used to be. I have a new tray and the bottom dips a little below the top grid, so even with warm water and a 3-4 minute wait, it’s a — my daughter quoted me on this this morning — “fight fight fight” to get them loose.
And I would know that squeaky whine when you’re trying to open it sound in my sleep!
Made this last night, and heartily recommend! I would definitely strongly recommend using the ginger beer if you enjoy the taste of ginger – it blended so well with the peaches that it was hard to imagine it without. We made bourbon versions for the adults, and a soda version for the 11yo, all enjoyed.
This sounds like the perfect summer cocktail! I would never have thought to use vinegar in a cocktail, but I’m excited to give it a try! #mindblown
This looks AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to make it!!! But I’m out of fresh peaches right now (and clearly need this drink now!) Do you think frozen peaches would work or just fresh?
I think they’ll have less nuanced flavor but should still work.
Made this with some fresh peaches to celebrate my birthday yesterday and it was a big hit! Delish!
You can use peach nectar instead of peaches. We make these in large batches for parties that way. I also recommend a couple drops of bitters in the mix.
what is your recipe/measurement when you do this for parties? Thanks
I’ve heard of shrubs but I’ve never tried one. This looks delightful. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for this!
By syrup from the peaches, do you mean the liquid from the macerated peach jar?
Yes.
I LOVE shrubs and I had half a nectarine in the fridge so I made this immediately. I cut the sugar down a tad (will cut more next time unless the fruit isn’t under ripe) and bumped the vinegar up a bit. Turned out great with rye! This will be in my fridge for the rest of the summer for sure. Might try with gin next…or brandy?
*unless the fruit IS under ripe
Looks delicious. I have some fancy pants Apple cider In the pantry, and a stash of GUS ginger ale. Always looking for great drinks sans alcohol.
This looks like the perfect thing to use up the peaches I couldn’t finish before going on vacation. I’m sure they’ll be sad shriveled things when I get back, but it’s a sacrifice I’m will to make for my last minute week in Greece. (I highly recommend Crete if you’re looking for another family getaway. The food is great, and the beaches are lovely).
Just when I am looking for an alcoholic drink to serve, what a timing!
I have a bag of overripe mangoes in the fridge, I guess they can substitute the peaches, rihgt?
I bet they’d be great here.
That sounds fantastic!
Ahhhh and I’m just out of apple cider vinegar! Am eyeing the normal white wine vinegar but I don’t think it would be the same? Will hit google. Refuse to go out to the shops again, it’s too hot!
Hope this helps, I went on a shrub bender while pregnant and, over the course of a year, used all the vinegars: apple cider, white wine, regular white vinegar. and all the fruits and aromatics. Pineapple, apple, mango, basil leaves, rosemary, mint, pepper….. all were excellent. It’s hard to mess up.
This sounds delightful. Will pick up some peaches our farmers market tomorrow.
How long do you think the peach shrubbette will keep in the fridge?
Looks amazing! I was thinking of making this in a large drink dispenser for a party- do you think it is fine to have it sit in one or should it be served right away?
I took a shrub class at SHED in Healdsburg last summer and I’m hooked. They make a beet shrub that is terrific – the taste & color are spectacular. I made a peach shrub with ginger & my daughter did an orange shrub with coriander. The chef teaching the class talked about mixing up the vinegar depending on what produce & spices you are using. A woman from South American woman told us how her mother had a crock by her kitchen sink & would throw citrus in it, along with cinnamon stick, nutmeg, vinegar & sugar, to make a shrub for her kids to drink with soda water at Christmas time. A citrus-sy shrub with bourbon would be wonderful winter drink….
These were terrific! Just finished drinking them outside on this perfect summer evening.
Yum!!! I like my cocktails a little stronger so went with 1 Tbsp syrup and 4 Tbsp whiskey with a splash of ginger ale. Yummy!!!
Shrub is different where my family comes from in Martinique. They macerate fruit in rhum agricole and serve it at the holidays. The rhum making “Clement” has at least 30 varieties of shrub from coconut and mango to coffee and chocolate. #doesntsuck!
Hey Deb! Love the recipe. Is there a non-alcoholic version that you could recommend?
She mentions in the note above the recipe that you can use more soda or ginger beer to make it alcohol-free.
I made the syrup and brought it to a family picnic where we mixed it with ginger ale, it was wonderful.
The next evening I mixed some leftover with bourbon and ginger ale.
To be honest I preferred it without the bourbon. (<- words I never thought I would say)
I actually liked it mixed into iced tea …
Really, all I can say is, “Yum!” My husband and I love bourbon, but it’s more of a winter drink for us. This summery conconction, though, is the best of all worlds. I went for it with the vinegar because Deb’s recipes have never ever failed me. The peaches only had a chance to sit for three hours when I made the drinks, and they were perfect. (I made enough, though, for many more cocktails, so I can’t wait to see how they taste today!) I added some ginger beer to top of our drinks, but honestly, I’ll leave it out next time.
This recipe has given me all sorts of ideas for other fruits to turn into shrubs, and all kinds of herbs from my garden to use instead of mint, Thai basil being top on the list.
You must make this!
I love a great whiskey recipe, and this one did not disappoint! So happy to see this before I headed to the farm stand to pick up pickling cucumbers and beets. This was my reward for canning three batches of pickles. Yum!
Giada’s strawberry omelette. I was like, a sweet omelette with vinegar soaked strawberries? Either gross or interesting. It was so delicious Check it out. I’d love to see your riff on it.
Talk about a fantastic summer afternoon drink!! Thank you for the new favorite! Made it with white peaches, 2:1 ratio of Q club soda : Goslings ginger beer, Jefferson’s bourbon, no mint. Perfect!
This sounds yummy. I have all of the ingredients listed for this but it’s only 9 am but as they say, it’s 12 o’clock somewhere right?!
I made this, but with peach nectar which we had in the fridge, since I didn’t have a peach. I used the nectar as “peach syrup” in assembly + dash of ACV + rest of assembly ingredients. It was so good, I had to make a 2nd. This morning, I look over at the fruit bin and see a lonely, ripe peach just sitting there. Arg! Off to make the actual shrub this time and have it ready for the end of the week cocktail.
I made the peach vinegar on Saturday 7/20. It is in my fridge right now! The plan was to have friends over Tuesday night, but alas the dinner party got pushed till Monday 7/30, do you think the shrub will last? Will it still taste okay 10 days later?
I think so but you can check in on it daily and if it seems like it’s not getting better, use it sooner.
Didn’t make it the week, FYI! Remaking for the party tonight.
Yessss! Shrubs forever! I have 2 steeping in the fridge right now: blueberry ginger and a strawberry black peppercorn! I gave up alcohol over a year ago now, but still love special occasion fancy drinks. I love to mix mine with seltzer water, fresh herbs, and yes to bitters! Totally delicious and thirst quenching.
That sound like lovely fruit combinations! What flavor of bitters did you use? I have a whole collection of bitters that I’m always looking for new ways to use.
This sounds sooo amazing! Really refreshing for the second half of this summer season.
What perfect timing, I just bought a half bushel of peaches. Sounds delicious!
Well I got straight up and made the peach “shrub”. I am in georgia so we have fresh beautiful peaches. I’ll let you know.
I just happened to have a too-ripe peach & ginger beer in the fridge, so this was perfect timing! This is definitely my new favorite lazy-summer-evening drink. :)
Question: Thinking ahead, since peach season is quickly coming to an end… could you macerate, then separately freeze the peaches and juice, without losing too much quality? Or at that point would it just be easier to buy frozen peaches?
This is a great question and I would love to know too. It seems to me that you could. Youd probably lose some quality but its bound to be better than store bought peaches no? The other option i guess would be freezing peaches, defrosting and then following recipe? Id slice them first though because after freezing they’ll be to soft to slice
I’m not sure at all, haven’t used frozen peaches here, not sure if it would just be mushy if you used them. I think this could be good with mango, perhaps?
Traditional shrubs have more vinegar so they keep for months. Here is a recipe that I could easily find and that I can vouch for https://www.davidlebovitz.com/cranberry-shrub-and-cranberry-shrub-cocktail-recipe/ (both the shrub and the cocktail)
I have made a blueberry one as well (but cannot find the link) and used that as the basis for a peach shrub a few years ago. I ran out of it (in a few months) before it went off.
That is one of my favorite drinks ever! I serve it for the holidays and everyone wants the recipe!
Wow, this looks delightful. A great way to celebrate summer with something fresh from the farm!
I have been doing almost exactly this with the ginger pickled peaches I put up last year. SOOOO GOOOD.
I make a nonalcoholic drink called Good Girl Moonshine that I learned while on the Trim Healthy Mama diet. I never thought I could stomach drinking vinegar, but now I love this drink. To turn it into a “not so good girl moonshine” sounds fun. :)
I enjoyed this very much! I am not sure the ginger beer is essential – I might try it without it next time.
Deb, I have to commend and congratulate you on creating a polite and respectful community of followers. So often I read great articles on Food52 only to be shocked at some of the comments that people make. I’m so disappointed when I see that. I’ve stopped reading the comments. Either these same trolls do not comment on your site, or they watch their P’s and Q’s when they do. I recall the occasional nasty commenter who was swiftly chased down and trampled by your other loyal readers. We love you and will always protect you.
Shrubs! We grew up going to this lovely old school restaurant with my father that served grape juice shrubs as an appetizer. We would have shrubs and Dad had a Rusty Nail. I will definitely experiment with your recipe. Thanks for sharing!
This was a huge hit! I have no idea what ginger beer is, so I used ginger ale. It was still really good. I used 1 tbsp of vinegar and couldn’t taste it. Will use 2 next time. Still, it was a nice refreshing drink that wasn’t very strong and wasn’t too sweet. I used tall glasses though, so I might have used more ginger ale than if I’d used a short glass.
Ginger beer: think a ginger ale that ACTALLY tastes like ginger. Trader Joe’s carries it, as well as grocery stores in my area. It might be in the liquor section, where mixers are….depending on the store. Or wherever they keep the mixers.
ACTUALLY (blush)
Actually, wine isn’t forbidden in the bible.
I ended purchasing the lovely book “shrubs” thank you for the rec and this recipe. I’ve made a few. Pet peeve and note to any aspiring cook book authors( Deb excluded ) none of the recipe tell you how much it makes. “Pour into mason jar” pint? Quart? That kind of oversight drives me crazy. Also, when restaurants don’t list their menu prices on their website. Details people! Deb, can’t wait to make this!
Bourbon Peach Smash…Thank you very much for letting me know about this…I am going to make this now…
Hi Deb, While I thought your previous cocktail recipe for a Boulevardier was outstanding (and I shared it with many a friend over the winter months), your Bourbon Peach Smash has become the OFFICIAL cocktail of summer here in my neck of the woods. Refreshing and hitting all the right taste buds on a hot summer day. And here I thought you were extremely gifted in the food department. Now I hold you in highest regard in the cocktail world. Keep on blogging, girl!
Ohhh my gosh!!! … to several things : your site with all this great stuff on it, this drink, the possibilities it brings to my mind, the happy people you have commenting here …. I’m so glad I found you guys. I toast you, and the remaining summer, with this scrumptious drink!
Another round, bartender!
Made it exactly as you said, using ginger beer for both a bourbon version and a non alcoholic version. Both were delicious!
Made the peach syrup a couple days ahead of a bbq we were hosting. Accidentally dropped the mason jar a couple hours before dinner as I was pulling it from the fridge. Made a second batch and it was still extraordinarily good. Guests started arriving a half hour early, so did a ‘build your own cocktail or mocktail’ station instead of putting together in pitcher and it was a huge hit. Lots of ways to vary… sparkling water + ginger beer, one or the other, use peach syrup to make a Kentucky Mule (bourbon instead of vodka), make as more of a mojito by adding extra mint, or adding more sparkling water to give it more of a spritzer feel. Really fun to see and taste the many variations. The recipe is basically fool-proof, no matter what life throws. Thanks Deb for another keeper!
Just made these and they were a big hit. Took a deep breath and did the full amount of apple cider vinegar and was glad I did. Really just a great, refreshing summer cocktail. We used Woodford Reserve–usually on hand for mint juleps in the spring. We’re adding this new cocktail to the summer rotation. Thanks for sharing! (I am now on the hunt for shrubs at any bar I can find them.)
It is incredibly difficult to “thinly slice” overripe peaches. Even still this is in incredible recipe so WORTH IT.
*Even still this is an incredible recipe so WORTH IT.
Yay! Thanks for putting the bourbon back into summer! This has quickly become a fan favorite around here.
Delicious!!
Damn. This is the PERFECT summer drink! Better than we expected. Don’t pass on the ginger beer unless you know for certain you would hate it. It really makes the drink extra special!
If you are making these for a crowd on a hot day and want to be able to drink more than one (because you picked over 40 lbs of peaches and need to invite friends over to help make jam).
1 c shrub
2 c bourbon (because I misread the recipe as a 1:2 ratio)
a few sprigs mint
lots of ice (to fill a two quart container about half full)
Shake hard to bash up the mint and cool the liquid (which probably dilutes it more than the original recipe, but it does not taste to thin).
Add 12 oz ginger beer (the good stuff)
OR
12 oz seltzer and about 2 T finely grated ginger (less sweet, and a bit more ginger flavor)
Stir
Pour into glasses filled with ice (straining through a fine strainer if you used the grated ginger). Garnish with a few slices of peach and some mint.
Yum! It tastes just the way it read. I confess, I swapped out the apple cider vinegar for maple vinegar, because I just got it and it seemed like a good idea, and it is. I reduced the quantity of sugar to account for the sweetness. I’ve just started my first drink and am already plotting when to have my second one! Perfect for a Saturday afternoon taking care of stuff at home.
I am drinking this as I type…soooo delicious!! I added a bit more ginger beer as I am a lightweight, but ohmigosh…bourbon and peaches!! Heaven!
I’ve fallen in love with another of your recipes! First of all, I had never heard of a shrub except the kind with leaves that grows on the edge of the garden. Now, I can’t look at a fruit without thinking how to make it into a shrub. I’ve made this Peach Shrub six times this summer (we didn’t drink it all ourselves, we shared) and everyone that tried it loves it too. Thanks again Deb Perlman
This is absolutely AMAZING!!!!
Holy heck haha I made this ages ago for a drink, used it once and that was it. So far back I don’t even have a clue when, and I found this poor forgotten jar in the back of the fridge. After a wrestling match to get it open, it hissed like a soda and bubbles started to fizz and rise to the top. Apprehensively I smelled it and was taken aback. It was SO good, tangy and peachy. In another feat of daring performance I tasted it. It was heavenly. It was like kombucha. But a bit alcoholic tasting. I’m not sure what it is now but I’m definitely making a huge batch and doing this accident again. Thank you for sharing this!!! :)
SO! This is a-ma-zing. But I come to you with a cautionary tale. If you make the shrub, be sure to store it in the fridge. I left mine on the counter. We had a warm day. I had fermentation! It got furry! It blurped! It was amusing but also bordered on an explosion. If you’re not into a science experiment, put your leftover shrub in the fridge.
You just get me…
While searching for 4th of July cocktail ideas I was rather annoyed to find nothing but red white and blue concoctions. In fact, I always go directly to your website for pretty much all of my recipes ideas and thought I’d stray and see what the rest of the internet had to offer. A waste of time because I ended up right back here. Thanks Girl, you do good work.
I made this yesterday (inspired by your IG post). I made it entirely with ginger beer (no bourbon) and it was great. I’m a shrub fan, so I found it needed more vinegar to zing for me. I ended up with about 1/4 c ACV in it. Delicious with the mint!!
Today is peaches day, and I am very, very happy about it. I just took your peach pie out of the oven and the smell is torturing me while I wait for it to cool and set. I also made the macerated peaches for this drink last night and just pulled it out of the fridge to mix a cocktail – just because, and also to celebrate the pie, but mostly just because. I loooove this drink. Even with slightly underripe peaches, the peach + bourbon flavor is fantastic. Definitely adding this to the summer drink rotation from now on. Have you tried a variation of this with apple? I’m thinking that would make a tasty fall cocktail, almost like cold hot apple cider.
I canned some peaches last year – how do you think those would work?
I think they’d work!
Did your ginger beer have a nice strong ginger flavour (like Bundaberg) or a mild flavour like a ginger ale? Thanks!
if you’re doning a mocktail what would the proportion be between peach and club soda? thanks
As a mocktail, skip the bourbon but not the ginger beer, which is non-alcoholic and provides incredible flavor here.
Would this be good with nectarine?
Yes
The peach shrub base is So Good. Refreshing and only slightly tart, even made with 3 T. of apple cider vinegar. (We like ACV in ice water for a summer drink). It peps up an inexpensive pinot grigio, amplifies limeade, and turns plain soda water into a treat. Never mind what it does with bourbon! One batch has lasted us for three days–used judiciously because we don’t want to run out!
Wow. Just wow. I am head over heels in love with this drink! Wish I had discovered it sooner.
Are there any other uses for the peach shrub you’d recommend? Another cocktail or mock tail maybe?
We used barrel strength Bulleit bourbon. The higher ABV stands up well with the peach and mint. Very smooth and drinkable on a warm summer afternoon.
Any suggestions on making a batch in a pitcher so I’m not muddling individual drinks?
Yes, it should scale just fine, you can muddle in the pitcher.
I like recipe. Was wondering if a shrub has a shelve life?
Thanks
I’d keep it chilled and use it within a week.
Q: does this really really serve 8? I’m loving this recipe but wondering how it could possibly serve 8
I can see why it would be misleading! The fruit portion will make 8 drinks. The assembly is per drink. Will clarify.
Not sure if I have commented in prior summers but boy-oh-boy do I love this drink! I look forward to my first fresh peaches to make a batch or two. Very popular with my guests, too.
I clicked so fast on this that I was there before the recipe posted. I have the perfect peach for the shrub which will make the perfect Friday night drink to replace Final Ward …the usual Friday drink. Where did inspiration come before IG and SmittenKitchen?!
Am contemplating whether to make the zucchini bread or cherry clafoutis while drinking one of these. Might make a second one to really think it through :-)
I’ve had this drink on my radar for quite a long time and never got it made. Today is finally the day. Peaches, bourbon and ginger beer are my favorites and this drink makes them shine. Even my husband who is not a ginger beer or bourbon fan loves this drink. I can see me making these all summer long.
About to make the peaches for this and realized I only have powdered sugar and honey. Would either of those work for the shrub? I’d prefer the honey, but it’s super light and floral.
I’d use honey because the powdered sugar could be murky. Maple syrup might work too.
Honey worked! I ended up making this several times, and the honey seemed to keep the peaches longer than the sugar did.
Can I use fresh basil instead of mint?
So absolutely delicious! The problem, you may know, dear Deb, one is inclined to drink more than one perhaps should. Well, peach season is limited. So i will allow myself. Kisses.! JM
This is fantastic! We found this recipe in 2019 and ever since during peach season, we always have a jar of the marinated fruit in the fridge and have Peach Smashes at least once a day. We make ours NA so we’ve modified it with a little less sugar (1/4 c), more vinegar (3T), and top up with half ginger beer/half seltzer. Strongly recommend Maine Root Ginger Brew for this!
I ended up using basil instead of mint and it was so delicious and just what was needed at the end of a long summer day