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Shrubs: An Old Fashioned Drink for Modern Times Hardcover – October 6, 2014

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Michael Dietsch (Author)
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Michael Dietsch (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 59 customer reviews
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100 Books for a Lifetime of Eating & Drinking
100 Books for a Lifetime of Eating & Drinking
 If you want to make an authentic tagine, bake mouth-watering cakes, or vicariously experience the life of a chef, you’ll find the book for it on this list.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Michael Dietsch has poked a pinhole in the past, and from this has projected the whole curious enterprise of drinkable vinegars in an enchanting light. Who would have thought spoiled wine or cider could taste so good?” (Wayne Curtis, Author of And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails)

“Imagine a fizzy, soda-like drink that is drier and so much more sophisticated than soda, what with the sugar and botanical ingredients. Shrubs! Amazing! Wonderful!” (Amy Stewart, the Drunken Botanist)

“Shrubs: The Reason You Should Be Drinking Vinegar This Summer.” (The Boston Globe)

About the Author

Michael Dietsch is a writer, editor, and accidental bartender in Brooklyn. He is a contributor at SeriousEats.com and writes about spirits and cocktails at the website A Dash of Bitters. When he's not mixing drinks, he's smoking huge chunks of meat, grilling vegetables, bicycling, or enjoying a fine cigar. He lives in Brooklyn with his family.
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Countryman Press; 1 edition (October 6, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1581572441
  • ISBN-13: 978-1581572445
  • Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsPossibly hip, but definitely not just trendy
By Erik H. on November 12, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Vinegar? Drinking vinegar? What? Is this some kind of weird Brooklyn hipster thing, like fixed-gear bikes and handlebar mustaches? Well... it's old-fashioned, and it's clever (preserving fruit was a thing before refrigeration was a thing, after all), and the author actually does live in Brooklyn. But look, the point is, sometimes there's real value in checking out supposedly obsolete or quaint old traditions. Especially when they're delicious.

The first section of the book is a nicely well-rounded (but not dry or stuffy) history of the two kinds of beverages that have at various times and in various places been known as shrubs; one has sugar, fruit, and alcohol (mostly rum, back in the day) and one was a sugary, tart, herb-infused beverage that honestly sounds like the 12th century version of modern sodas, except way better (seriously, would you rather drink Arctic Blast Extreme, or Peach Honey Mint?). It's fascinating to read about the way these drinks moved across Europe, then to Colonial Amercia, where shrubs were common. There are recipes from at least a couple of guys who now appear on money, for example. (In both original form, and updated, because Dietsch cares about the historical accuracy but also the flavor.)

Shrubs never went away completely, but they sure did become obscure, and that's interesting too. Dr. Pepper claims to have 23 flavors, and that's typical for something invented in early 20th-century America. What can be really great is a simple-sounding but amazingly effective combination of sweet, acidic/ tart, and fruit. It helps that shrubs are very, VERY easy to make at home. For those few ingredients you can get a lot of flavors.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starseasy to follow and old school charm
By Andi Szilagyi on October 7, 2014
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This is a fantastically written and gorgeous drinks cookbook. The recipes are straightforward, easy to follow, and the photography of the drinks and some accompanying food is great. These drinks are starting to make a comeback, and are part of North American history, back to the colonial American era. Not all of them are alcoholic drinks, either, and some of those could work fine if you just exclude the alcohol. It's a great purchase and it's going to take a while to work through my new drinking backlog. I sort of feel like I should wear a tricorne when I read the book, in a good way.
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5.0 out of 5 starsMagnificent collection!
By Tim Thraves on October 22, 2014
Format: Hardcover
I tried one of Michael's recipes that I found in a magazine and was instantly hooked. The book does a magnificent job of discussing the history of shrubs, the different styles through time, a vast collection of recipes, and finally some really outstanding cocktails utilizing the shrubs. The photography is great, the writing is spot on, and the recipes are simple to follow and execute as well providing reasons why he went certain directions with different recipes. I've tried another 3 recipes since getting the book less than a month ago, and my children beg me to make a new one the second we've gone through one. I highly recommend this book for adults looking for an alternative to overly sweet soft drinks, and aspiring cocktail makers looking for new and exciting ingredients for your concoctions.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWe Need More Vinegar
By Lew Bryson on November 12, 2014
Format: Hardcover
There I was, telling my kids (20 and 23, still in college, so they kind of listen to me) that German cooking was misunderstood because vinegar was such an underrated flavor. Vinegar is great stuff, I told them, but we're told "sour" is bad! Grumble, grumble...and then Michael Dietsch's book arrived in the mail. I haven't stopped the sour since.
Shrubs are a terrific thirst quencher, going back to the old horse cavalry trick of pouring a couple caps of vinegar in the water in your canteen to cut the dust. I pour a few tablespoons of shrub (the cranberry's delicious) into a tall glass of club soda and ice, and I don't need anything else. It's easier and more rewarding than the homebrewing I used to do. Great book, highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIf you like fruity, herbal, and tangy beverages; then you have to get this book.
By JMForester on November 3, 2014
Format: Hardcover
Everything you ever wanted to know about the historical fruit and vinegar beverage called Shrub. Michael Dietsch has done a great job on researching the history of these alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as discussing how to make them. He has both recipes, and information on how to create your own. Shrubs once very popular up to around a hundred years ago, are now becoming popular again. They are mostly seen in high end restaurants and cocktail bars, but with this book you can easily make them at home. Whether you want non-alcoholic ones to serve to family, guests and kids, or the alcoholic ones with a bit of a kick, you'll be able to make them with no worries. I had made some shrubs in the past, but after reading this I immediately created several new shrubs based on Dietsch's recipes such as plum and spices, peach and herbs, and one where I tried something totally new, guava with rose and vanilla. A friend came over to visit the other day. She can't drink much alcohol because of medication. She told me she had tried a shrub at a local restaurant and liked it very much. When she heard I had made some I had to serve her them. She ended up going home with several bottles of the various shrub syrups I had made. If you like fruity, herbal, and tangy beverages; then you have to get this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsSophisticated

Healthy, gourmet, modern drinks for hipsters. Before today's soft drinks there were shrubs...love the creative twist on an old recipe

Published 11 days ago by Jennifer S Amo
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat purchase

I had already made several shrubs (using the standard outline of a "recipe") prior to buying this book, but it's inspired me so much with all the interesting flavor... Read more

Published 12 days ago by Kit M
5.0 out of 5 starsTry shrubs HIS way!

Well researched and fun to read.
I loved the recipes!

Published 1 month ago by Paula W
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great source for ideas and recipes to make this unique drink.

Published 1 month ago by Kathleen C. Bruno
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great recipes.

Published 3 months ago by Soaper
5.0 out of 5 starsShrubtastic.

I'm obsessed with shrubs. I like coming up with my own combinations of fruits and herbs, but this book had some great suggestions, too.

Published 3 months ago by Alisyn
5.0 out of 5 starsTasty and Flexible Beverage Options

I am interested in beverage flavors that aren't too sweet and can be added to water, iced tea, or alcohol. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Colette D. Palmer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Love it! Very informative!

Published 4 months ago by Susan M.
5.0 out of 5 starsFantastic book!

This is quite possibly the coolest book on Shrubs there is. The author not only gives us the fascinating history behind them, but wears the Shrub Cred crown, if there is such a... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Holly B
5.0 out of 5 starsShrubs from A to Z

I happened into Shrubs by ordering a bourbon mixed drink at a fantastic Louisville BBQ joint (Feast BBQ). The taste was wonderful and unusual - and I know what bourbon tastes like. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Randy

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