Brandy and Blackberry Lavender Shrub – A Brandy Cocktail

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Last Updated on June 6, 2023 by Leah Hall

A Lavender Berry shrub with brandy makes for a great cocktail!

Summer is the season for shrub based cocktails, and we have definitely been in a mood for tart fruity cocktails, and our Brandy and Blackberry Lavender Shrub cocktail certainly fits the bill! We love using shrubs to add a rich tart flavor to cocktails. We also like to use shrubs for their original purpose of preserving fresh fruit for later, especially the wonderful fresh blackberries that are in season during the spring for cocktails!

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Lavender Berry Shrub

We have made Blackberry shrubs in the past and loved the way the sour of the apple cider vinegar and the tart of the blackberries made a sweet tangy base for our cocktails. For this recipe we were inspired by some beautiful lavender plants growing in our herb garden. Lavender adds a delicious floral note to the blackberry shrub, which adds a real nice complexity to the shrub.

We chose to use fresh lavender leaves as the flavor will be gentler than using the dried flower petals and helps avoid one of the major pitfalls of making the dish to much like perfume which can commonly can happen when cooking with lavender.

Shrubs can’t be rushed, and letting the the flavors meld together over time can make the whole mixture richer and more nuanced. We allowed our berry shrub to meld for around 2 days before checking the flavors.

Checking the flavors at this point allows you to adjust the flavors to be a bit more to your liking by adjusting the sugar or vinegar.

Mason Jars / Coupe (ours is vintage) /  Shaker

What Ingredients are Needed for the Blackberry Lavender Shrub Cocktail?

• Blackberry Lavender Shrub
  • Sugar
  • Blackberries
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Water
  • Lavender
• Cocktail
  • Apple Brandy
  • Lemon Juice
  • Dry Vermouth
  • Blackberry Lavender Shrub
  • Simple Syrup

For the Brandy and Blackberry Lavender Shrub, we used a great apple brandy as our base spirit which really worked with the apple cider base of the shrub. A splash of dry vermouth brings additional herbal qualities and adds a hint of sweetness that helps bring the sour bite of the shrub under control. A dash of simple syrup helps with the sweetness level, too!

A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a brightness and a nice lemon perfume that pulls a little more of the lavender flavor out and pairs well with the blackberry flavors.  This drink was tart and fruity and perfect for sipping on a warm summer day by the pool!

Cheers!

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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

Lavender Lemon Gin & Tonic

Lavender Bee’s Knees

Other Fruit Shrub Cocktails

• Apple Cider Vinegar Blueberry and Ginger Shrub – Fermented Food Lab
• Raspberry Shrub – Hearth & Vine
• Vanilla Strawberry Shrub – The Flavor Bender
• Meyer Lemon Shrub – This Mama Cooks

Other Brandy Cocktails

• Charleston Light Dragoons Cocktail – Basil & Bubbly
• Pear Brandy Cocktail – Mantitlement
• Wisconsin Brandy Old Fashioned – Curious Cuisinaire

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Brandy and Blackberry Lavender Shrub - A Brandy Cocktail

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Set Time: 2 days

Total Time: 2 days 20 minutes

A delightful sweet and sour cocktail made with a shrub and brandy.

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Ingredients

Blackberry Lavender Shrub

• 1 Tablespoon water
• 1 Tablespoon lavender leaves
• .75 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup blackberries, cut in half
• 1 cup sugar

For the Cocktail

• 2 ounces apple brandy
• .50 ounce dry vermouth
• 4 ounces blackberry lavender shrub
• .50 ounce simple syrup
• .25 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

For the Cocktail

Add ingredients to a shaker.

Fill shaker with ice.

Shake until chilled.

Strain into cocktail coupe.

Cheers!

For the Shrub

In an airtight container or jar, add berries, sugar and lavender leaves.

Mash until berries are fully broken down and sugar is a thick paste.

Add water and apple cider vinegar and stir until sugar is dissolved.

Seal container and place in fridge for 2 days.

Taste after 2 days to see if it is to your liking, adjust vinegar and sugar to tailor the flavor to your preference.

Using a mesh strainer, strain berries and lavender leaves and discard, retaining liquid.

Pour remaining liquid into a clean sealed container.

Store in fridge up to 3 weeks.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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  Luminarc Barcraft Coupe
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  Ball Pint Mason Jar, Regular Mouth, 16 oz (2 Count)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 14mgCarbohydrates: 26.6gFiber: 0gSugar: 13.1gProtein: 0.1g

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