Raspberry Shrub (Recipe)

 

Ingredients

2 cups fresh or frozen loose-pack red paspberries
2 cups water
1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups light rum or carbonated water
1 tablespoon lime juice
Ice cubes, crsuhed
Mint sprigs, lime twists and/or fresh raspberries (optional)

Steps

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the raspberries and water.  Heat to boiling.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

 

2. Strain the mixture, returning the juice to the saucepan and discarding the raspberry pulp.  (You should have 2 cups juice.)

3. Add the sugar to the hot juice, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.

4. For each serving: Fill a tall glass with crushed ice.  Add about 1/2 cup of the raspberry syrup, 1/4 cup rum or carbonated water and 3/4 teaspoon lime juice.

5. Garnish with mint sprigs, lime twists and/or fresh raspberries, if desired.

Tips:

Make specialty ice cubes by freezing whole raspberries and small mint leaves in water or ginger ale.

For variety, substitute lemon-lime carbonated beverage or ginger ale for the rum or carbonated water and omit the sugar.

If you are in a hurry and don't have time to crush the ice, you can leave the ice cubes whole.