Modern: River City Refresher

Name: Modern: River City Refresher
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 ounces blackberry-infused vodka (see Note); 1½ ounces Apple Shrub; 3 dashes ginger bitters; 3 ounces ginger kombucha; 1 thin apple slice, for garnish; 3 fresh blackberries, speared, for garnish

Preparation info

Makes
1
Drink

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Spirits of '76

By Kim Laidlaw

Published 2026

About

This modern cocktail blends Missouri’s agricultural bounty with St. Louis’s vibrant craft-cocktail culture. Blackberry-infused vodka and apple shrub showcase local fruits, while ginger kombucha and bitters add bite. Garnished with blackberries, it’s a zingy, effervescent celebration of the state’s flavors.

Ingredients

2 ounces blackberry-infused vodka (see Note)
1½ ounces Apple Shrub<

Americas
United States
Missouri
Drinks
Gluten-free
Vegan

Method

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the vodka, apple shrub, and bitters. Cover and shake vigorously until chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Top with the kombucha and stir gently. Garnish with the apple slice and blackberries and serve.