Elderberry Shrub

Total Time: 20 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup elderberry
• 1 cup cider vinegar (unpasteurized, if you can get it)
• sugar (about 1 1/2 cups, or to taste)
• soda water, to serve

Recipe

• 1 wash and dry the elderberries, place them in a pint-size jar or non-reactive bowl, and lightly crush using a fork or potato masher.
• 2 add vinegar and stir to combine.
• 3 cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, occasionally shaking the jar or stirring the contents of the bowl.
• 4 give the mixture a good shake or stir and then strain using a fine-mesh strainer and/or cheesecloth.
• 5 discard the solids.
• 6 measure the liquid.
• 7 for every cup of liquid, use 1 cup of sugar.
• 8 combine liquid and sugar in a saucepan.
• 9 bring to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
• 10 boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
• 11 let cool; bottle, and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks (the longer it steeps, the more mellow the flavor).
• 12 to serve, mix with sparking water. start with 1 part shrub to 6 parts sparkling water and adjust to taste. the syrup may also be mixed with plain water or used in cocktails.