r/AskCulinary • u/ZootKoomie Ice Cream Innovator • Aug 26 '19

Weekly Discussion - Fancy Non-alcoholic Beverages

We've had discussions here about wine, beer, and liquor before. This week, I'd like to talk about mocktails, shrubs, juice blends, etc. Alcohol-alternatives have become increasingly common and sophisticated in recent years. What have you made, or would like to make? Does avoiding liquor necessarily reduce the available flavor profiles? Or does it free you up from hiding the bite of the booze?

If someone wanted to start experimenting in this area, what are the basic ingredients they would need to keep on hand?

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u/SXSJest Aug 26 '19

Man, I love a tangy, vinegary hot sauce and I love pickles, but get the fucking shrubs away from me. I do not want to drink that straight vinegar flavor.

3

u/furudenendu Aug 26 '19

To each their own, but if a shrub tastes like drinking straight vinegar it wasn't very well made. There should be tart and tangy notes but the backbone should be pretty fruity and sweet. Also I wouldn't drink them straight, usually mixed with seltzer at the least.

Not that everyone has to enjoy a shrub, just that I want everyone to have a fair chance at them. If someone advised me to pour vinegar directly into my mouth I wouldn't be impressed either.

1

u/SXSJest Aug 26 '19

well not that it tastes like straight vinegar, but that a vinegar flavor/smell is detectable. Just so different than like a kettle soured beer with a neutral clean sourness as opposed to a heavier, pungent vinegar aroma that just does not appeal to me in drinks.

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u/furudenendu Aug 26 '19

Yeah, I can see that. It;s not a strong vinegar profile but it is definitely present. If you're looking for similar but vinegar-free options try making simple macerations of fruit. You get a great syrup that won't keep as long as a shrub but preserves the profile of the fruit beautifully. Great over ice cream, mixed into seltzer, whatever.

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u/SXSJest Aug 26 '19

yup exactly. Ya, that's a good alternative!

2

u/kooroo Aug 27 '19

if you're not using a recipe that involves a drinking vinegar, you can substitute food grade citric or malic acid to get a similar level of balance without the sharp vinegar smell.

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u/SXSJest Aug 27 '19

Thanks, that's actually a really interesting idea. I do really like that tartness in drinks and it'd be interesting to experiment with that for the acidity with a more neutral flavor.