Gin Cocktail With Berry-Thyme-Pepper Shrub

This shrub pairs beautifully with barrel-aged gin. Time in a barrel rounds out gin’s edges, offering the botanicals that gin lovers love, and the warm, oaky character of a whiskey. Shrubs are great way to use up seasonal fruit; and in particular bruised or on-the-edge fruit that otherwise might go bad. Vinegar must have at least 5 percent acidity, but otherwise, you can use whatever vinegar you like. White, brown or raw sugar may be used. 

Recipe by Catherine Neville

Berry-Thyme-Pepper Shrub

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 1 cup white wine vinegar

  • ½ cup blueberries

  • 1 bunch thyme

  • 1 Tbsp black peppercorns

Blue Gin Cocktail

  • 1.5 oz barrel-aged gin

  • 5 oz berry-thyme-pepper shrub (recipe follows)

  • Squeeze of honey

  • Sparkling wine 

| Preparation - Berry-Thyme-Pepper Shrub | Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup white wine vinegar in a pot over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.

Add blueberries, thyme and peppercorns and simmer. Cool and strain through cheesecloth.

| Preparation - Blue Gin Cocktail | Add gin, blueberry-pepper-shrub and squeeze of honey to a cocktail shaker filled with ice; shake. Top with sparkling wine.

Catherine Neville