Jen is still here visiting. We met in the summer of 1995 while we were both working at Lonz Winery in Ohio. We have a long history of consuming alcohol together. Some of it we can even remember.
Since I have a giant rhubarb plant (that grows despite my complete neglect of all plants) in the backyard we thought it would be fun to make a rhubarb cocktail recipe. It sounded like it could be good. Maybe. Possibly. With enough rum anything could be good.
The cocktail is called Rhubarb Shrub. I thought it was called Rhubarb Scrub, because I blog when I’m drunk.
Here are the main ingredients.
I know, it looks gross. We had faith. The directions said to chop up half a rhubarb stalk in a mason jar. Then add two cups of apple cider vinegar. I think it called for one cup of dark Jamaican Rum. Since Jen bought Puerto Rican Rum instead we just filled the rest of the jar with it.
The rhubarb needed to steep for 24 hours.
Upon opening the jar we were hit with the most foul vinegar scent either of us had ever smelled. My children immediatley ran for cover in the basement. It didin’t work because the scent wafted downstairs too. We both tasted it before adding the sugar and boiling it.
This is Jen’s reaction:
It was not good. I’m not sure any amount of sugar could help it. But we soldiered on anyway. Jen strained out the rhubarb.
Next she added one cup of sugar.
We brought the mixture to a boil and simmered it for 10 minutes. At this point Jen’s family back in Ohio could smell it. They called to complain.
We did another taste test.
Still a teensy bit vinegary.
Jen added more sugar…
We boiled some more, then put it in the freezer to chill. We don’t have much faith in this drink, so we moved on to an easier recipe.
Since we still wanted to use the lovely summer rhubarb we added it to our cocktails.
This is what nearly 40-year-old women do on vacation. Get drunk and blog.
Before we were done with our rum & cokes with a rhubarb twist, the shrub was cool enough to drink. The recipe said to add more rum and serve 1 part shrub to 4 parts club soda. We decided to try it without adding more rum because we were afraid of running out of rum before we were drunk.
This is the taste test:
Verdict: Shrubs are neither refreshing nor tasty. We’ll stick with drinking rum & coke, wine, and beer. Leave the vinegar for douchebags.
That sounds nasty. But, I have the best rhubarb cake recipe in the world if you want it. It would go great with coffee….or rum.
I have a ton of rhubarb in my yard and do a ton of things with it. But, I did find this last year for rhubarb infused vodka. I mix it with sprite/7up/ something clear and fuzzy.
http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-rhubodka-rhubarb-vodka-121087
Hahaha! This would have been a good time to switch from photo to video. I bet you two were dying laughing.
I’m actually queasy. Here in my super-sized chair. Ick. But I don’t like rum unless it’s the Captain Morgan kind, so…
“Leave the vinegar for douchebags.”
best ending ever.
LOL. I also have a rhubarb plants that grows despite complete lack of care on my part, its too bad that it didn’t have any magical alcohol properties that would make it worthwhile. I’ll heed your advice and save it and the vinegar for douchebags! =D
OMG…did you actually find that recipe somewhere??? That sounded absolutely disgusting! I LOVED the pics…priceless.
Looks like you are having a great time with you buddy! I love experimenting with cocktails (especially martinis). =D
they are still as strang now as they were on the island ! / or just more !!!!!!!!!!! ///
blech
whiskey and beer please.
at least everyone’s clothes stayed on and no one got arrested. when you’re 40 you cant do that anymore…right?
Belch! Sorry you wasted all that rum!
Where was Captain Morgan through all this? He would’ve told you it was a bad idea from the get go.
–Looks like you girls are having a smashing time!
***Get drunk and blog.***
Ummm, I’ve tried this ONCE.
So, not cool.
Xxx
I don’t think I’ll be trying this drink for my cocktail blog. I’ll stick to vodka with no shrubs.
OMG! Those faces are priceless!!!
You’ve just proven that there is one thing in this world that doesn’t go with rum.
Eeewwww!
Honestly, what possessed you to add vinegar to a cocktail? Vodka, it was supposed to steep in vodka, everything is improved by being steeped in vodka, even rhubarb!
[...] stems from our rhubarb plant. I like to make rhubarb bread. I’ve attempted to make pie and cocktails out of it – but failed miserably at both. Jackson asked me what I would do with the rhubarb. [...]