Balsamic Fig Shrub Recipe with Fresh Figs for Cocktails and Dressings

Fig shrubs are a bright, refreshing drink ideal for summer and early fall. This Easy Balsamic Fig Shrub with Fresh Figs uses just three ingredients and makes a wonderfully vegan shrub you can sip on its own, mix with sparkling water, or use as a mixer in cocktails or mocktails.

This Quick Balsamic Fig Shrub comes from Warren Bobrow’s collection of shrub and bitters recipes. Fresh figs combined with tangy, viscous balsamic create a lovely balance: the fruit’s natural sweetness and complexity pair beautifully with the tartness and depth of the vinegar. If you prefer no alcohol, use the shrub to make vibrant mocktails or pair it with nonalcoholic spirits and sparkling water.

What is a shrub?

A shrub is a sweet-tart fruit-based concentrate made with vinegar and a sweetener. Traditionally served chilled over ice with fruit or an herb garnish, a shrub is sweetened to balance the acidity of the vinegar. Shrubs are versatile: dilute with still water, sparkling water, tea, or use as a cocktail component.

While this recipe uses balsamic vinegar for its rounded flavor, you can substitute other vinegars such as apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or coconut vinegar depending on the flavor profile you want. The sweetener is typically sugar — vegan varieties are easy to find — but other sweeteners like maple syrup, date syrup, or a vegan honey substitute can be used if you plan to refrigerate the shrub and consume it fairly quickly.

Is a shrub a concentrated syrup?

Not exactly as concentrated as a simple syrup, a shrub is nevertheless a concentrated, fruit-infused vinegar syrup that you typically dilute before drinking. Its strength makes it an excellent flavoring agent for drinks and cocktails.

What’s the difference between a shrub and a switchel?

A shrub centers on fruit and vinegar. A switchel usually features apple cider vinegar, water, a sweetener such as molasses or maple, and often ginger; it may or may not include fruit. Both are refreshing, but shrubs lean more toward fruity vinegar syrups while switchels are traditionally ginger-forward tonics.

Fig Balsamic Shrub Recipe Ingredients

Only three simple ingredients:

• 4–5 ripe figs, quartered (black mission, common, or other fresh varieties)
• 1 cup demerara sugar (or other vegan sugar such as organic cane or a blend)
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar (substitute apple cider vinegar if needed)

How to make the shrub

1. Place the quartered figs in a nonreactive bowl and cover them with the sugar.

2. Add the balsamic vinegar and stir well. The sugar will begin to dissolve. Cover the bowl tightly and let it sit at room temperature for 2–3 days.

3. After resting, uncover and gently mash the figs with a fork or masher to release more juice.

4. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or sieve into another bowl, pressing the fruit with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible.

5. Transfer the finished shrub to a sterilized jar or bottle and store. The vinegar and sugar preserve the mixture, so refrigeration is optional, though you may keep it chilled if you prefer.

How to drink shrubs

Enjoy the shrub straight as a small, intensely flavored shot, or dilute it: try 1–2 tablespoons of shrub to 8 ounces of still or sparkling water, depending on taste. Shrub also blends well with tea, lemonade, or fruit juices and serves as an excellent cocktail ingredient.

Fig shrub cocktails and mocktails

Shrubs are fantastic in cocktails and mocktails. A simple approach: add shrub to your favorite spirit—vodka, gin, or bourbon—or mix with nonalcoholic spirits for a zero-proof drink. A favorite combination is fig shrub with bourbon, a dash of cardamom or aromatic bitters, and a touch of maple or apple juice. For a mocktail, swap the liquor for sparkling water or a nonalcoholic spirit and garnish with fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary.

More recipes to try

• Maple Hot Toddy
• Slow Cooker Tempeh with Figs and Port Wine
• DIY Mint Vodka
• Lavender Syrup for Coffee