Refreshing Sour Cherry Shrub Cocktail Mocktail Recipe with Fresh Thyme
A vibrant and refreshing non-alcoholic shrub cocktail mocktail featuring tart sour cherries, fresh thyme, and a subtle vinegar tang, perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes (including steeping time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups sour cherries (fresh or frozen, pitted)
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar (unfiltered preferred)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (or honey/maple syrup as a substitute)
- 3–4 sprigs fresh thyme
- Chilled sparkling water, for serving
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Ice cubes, as needed
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups of pitted sour cherries, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Allow it to simmer gently for about 5 minutes until the cherries soften and release their juices.
- Remove from heat and add 3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme. Cover and let steep for 30 minutes to an hour to infuse the herbal flavor.
- Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean bowl or jar, pressing gently to extract all liquid. Discard solids and thyme sprigs.
- Let the shrub cool completely, then seal and refrigerate. It keeps well for up to 2 weeks.
- To prepare the mocktail, combine 2–3 tablespoons of shrub syrup with 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice and ice cubes in a glass.
- Top off with about 6 ounces (180 ml) of chilled sparkling water and stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with a fresh thyme sprig or a few whole cherries and serve.
Notes
Simmer cherries gently to avoid harsh vinegar taste. Use fresh thyme for best flavor; if using dried, use half the amount and add earlier in simmering. Adjust sugar and vinegar to taste depending on cherry sweetness and acidity. Chill shrub syrup and sparkling water for best refreshment. The shrub base can be made up to two weeks ahead and stored refrigerated. For a stronger vinegar kick, add more shrub syrup carefully.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (about 8 oun
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: sour cherry shrub, mocktail, shrub cocktail, fresh thyme, non-alcoholic drink, refreshing beverage, summer drink, tart and sweet drink