Shrub-a-Dub-Dub (Sparkling Fruit Shrub)

The first time someone described a “shrub” or “sipping vinegar” to me, I looked around the room for cameras. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! And the first time I put a shrub on one of my menus, a guest pointed to a plant on the bar near the citrus and asked if that was the house shrub.

But once you get to know them, shrubs — concentrated syrups made from whole fruit and vinegar — are far from bizarre. In fact, they are truly delicious and easy to make. They’re a fun, inventive way to introduce a crisp bite to your glass without relying on citrus, and making one at home is a great practice of sustainability, allowing you to preserve the freshness of the season with whatever fruits and veggies you have around. Here’s how to do it.

Read more: How to Make a Fruit Shrub Syrup

To make a shrub, you simply mix chopped fruit of your choosing with apple cider vinegar, let it sit overnight, blend it all up, add sugar, and blend again. At this point, you can refrigerate the mixture for up to two months. Whenever you’re ready for a drink, simply add sparkling water or seltzer, pouring in as much or as little as you like depending on how strong you want it to be.

Last year, I tasted one of the best peaches I’d ever had in my life and preserved some in a shrub. A few months later, when I poured myself some, I was immediately brought back to biting into that peach. The recipe below calls for peaches, pears, or apple. Use whichever one is at its peak when you make your shrub, then use it to savor that flavor for months to come.