Here’s a visual reminder of why this is the best time of year.
Figs. Apples. Bourbon. And, yes, cinnamon sugar.
Autumn feels like cinnamon sugar season to me — cozy, spicy and perfect for hunkering down.
I have a huge blog crush on Kayley from The Kitchen McCabe. Her shrubs are so creative and her photography is unreal. Every time I see one, I promise myself I’ll make my own shrub — a simple fruit syrup made with vinegar instead of water. This felt like the perfect moment to try a shrub at home, driven by my apple obsession and a desire for every apple cocktail and mocktail possible.
If you’re unfamiliar with shrubs: they’re concentrated fruit syrups combined with vinegar, which creates a bright, tangy balance that plays beautifully with spirits or seltzer. I’ve always been drawn to vinegary, briny flavors — I’ll take a splash of vinegar over heavy oil any day. My tastes might be odd, but they’re consistent.
I added fresh mint to the apple and vinegar mixture and it turned out to be one of the best choices I made this season. My herbs have been thriving lately, so I had plenty of mint on hand. You could easily swap in basil, sage, lemon balm or rosemary, but mint paired perfectly with apple for what I had in mind.
I was aiming for something warm and fall-forward, and of course I went with bourbon. After letting the shrub sit for about 48 hours, I mixed it with maple syrup, bourbon, fresh figs and seltzer. The figs were juicy, sweet and incredibly flavorful — they lifted the whole drink.
The result is a drink that feels warm even when served cold — mint adds a hint of freshness while the maple and bourbon bring depth. It’s very customizable: adjust the shrub, maple, bourbon or seltzer to taste. Perfect for relaxed evenings, a Gilmore Girls marathon, or just bingeing on fresh figs with friends.
Apple Mint Shrub for a Maple Fig Bourbon Soda
1
cocktail, is easily multiplied
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Ingredients
Mint Apple Shrub
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated apple
- 1/4 cup fresh mint
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Maple Fig Bourbon Soda
- 1 1/2 ounces mint apple shrub
- 1/2 ounce maple syrup
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 2 ounces seltzer or to taste
- 2 figs, sliced
- cinnamon sugar for the rim
Instructions
Mint Apple Shrub
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Combine the grated apple and mint in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar and apple cider vinegar, stir to combine, then cover tightly and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing the fruit to release the liquid. Store the shrub in a sealed container in the fridge.
Maple Fig Bourbon Soda
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Rim a glass with maple syrup and cinnamon sugar. Fill with crushed ice. Add the mint apple shrub and maple syrup, stir, then pour in the bourbon and stir again. Add sliced figs and top with seltzer (or ginger ale/ginger beer) to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
I appreciate you so much!
Why is this so delicious? Because the tart, bright shrub, sweet maple, ripe figs and warming bourbon create a balanced, cozy drink that celebrates fall in a glass.