Concord Grape Shrub

Apple cider vinegar will work, although has a certain flavor that tends to creep into the Concord grape flavor, so you'll have to decide if you want apple flavor in your shrub, or to keep it purely grape. I generally use white vinegar. There's a recipe for a cocktail after the instructions which uses the shrub, but it can also be enjoyed in a glass with sparkling water added and an orange or lemon twist, if you'd like.

1 pound (450g) Concord grapes,, stemmed
1/2 cup (100g) sugar,, raw granulated, or regular granulated
1/2 cup (120ml) white vinegar

1. Put the grapes in a non-reactive saucepan. Mash or squeeze them to release some of the juices. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the grapes are cooked through, about 5 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar and vinegar. Cover and let steep overnight at room temperature.
3. The next day, pass the grapes through a food mill to remove the seeds and skins. If you don't have a food mill, you can press them through a mesh sieve with a flexible silicone spatula into a bowl. If a lot of the pulp remains in the stainer after pressing the grapes through, gently rewarm the grape pulp in the saucepan and the rest should pass through more easily. Transfer the grape shrub into a bottle and refrigerate until ready to use. It'll keep for several months in the refrigerator.

Notes

To make a Concord Grape cocktail, mix 1 1/2 ounces of Concord grape shrub in a tumbler with 1 1/2 ounces of gin and 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Triple Sec. Add 2 ounces of sparkling water, then twist a strip of orange zest over the drink. Garnish with an orange or lemon twist, and add ice.