Spiced Holiday Shrub

Grogs, Nogs, juleps, shrubs, blushes, sours, coolers—nothing betrays the South’s rich and diverse ethnic heritage like the array of intriguing names applied to many of our alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. A shrub is always made with some form of berry or berry juice and can be hot or cold, plain or spiced, sweet or slightly tart. During the winter holidays, this particular shrub would be served with shortbread or pound cake at an informal afternoon social.