Drinking vinegars and vinegar-based shrubs have made their way onto home bars and cocktail menus across the South, including at Doar Bros., a cocktail bar in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. There, bar manager Megan Deschaine created the Burnt District, one of a series of cocktails that nod to Charleston history and culture while showcasing a modern approach to drinking. “Featuring smoky mezcal and pineapple, the iconic symbol for Charleston and hospitality, the name of this cocktail references the great fire of 1838, which leveled the same several blocks in which our bar is located,” Deschaine explains. “It was later coined ‘the burnt district.’” Bonus: Her Spiced Pineapple Shrub makes for a great addition to your fridge for all sorts of home mixology.—Jenny Adams
Food & Drink
The Burnt District
An easy-to-make pineapple shrub enlivens this mezcal cocktail

photo: Andrew Cebulka | Courtesy of Doar Bros.
Ingredients
-
1½ oz. mezcal
1½ oz. Spiced Pineapple Shrub (ingredients below)
½ oz. lime juice
Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
SPICED PINEAPPLE SHRUB
1 pineapple
1 quart apple cider vinegar
6 cloves, crushed
4 cinnamon sticks, crushed
20 allspice berries
8 star anise pods
15–20 black peppercorns
2 cups (or more) sugar
Preparation
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake well, and then pour into a collins glass. Finish with 2–3 dashes of black walnut bitters.
For the shrub: Remove the skin of one pineapple and chop into small pieces. Add to 1 quart of apple cider vinegar and allow to soak for 24 hours.
Over low heat, slow cook the pineapple and vinegar with the spices and sugar. After about 30 minutes, carefully taste the contents. The shrub should be aromatic and zippy—a balance of tart and semi-sweet. If it is too acidic, carefully add more sugar to your preferred palate.
Remove from heat and allow the contents to cool. Strain off the solids and store the shrub in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Recipe by Megan Deschaine of Doar Bros. in Charleston, South Carolina
Related Stories:

Recipe
Chef Ann Kim’s Foolproof Sweet Potato Carrot Cake
A holiday favorite from the Garden & Gun Club at the Battery Atlanta

Food & Drink
Tabatha Pickett’s Sweet Victories
From a winery with three Southern locations, a culinary mastermind churns out hundreds of cheesecakes, rolls, crackers, and these classic oatmeal cookies

Recipe
How to Make the Perfect Smash Cheeseburger, According to Pat Martin
The acclaimed pitmaster proved he’s savvy with a skillet at Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop, and he’s got some meaty advice
Trending Stories:

Home & Garden
Thirty Ways to Make Your Garden Look Older
Garden pros share tips for giving your green spot a sense of Southern story

Travel
A Perfect Fall Weekend in Edenton, North Carolina
North Carolina’s Inner Banks have a surprising political history, famous barbecue, and the best grilled cheese oysters you’ve never heard of

Music
In the Studio with Vincent Neil Emerson and Shooter Jennings
The Grammy-winning producer Jennings helps Emerson tap into his rock-and-roll spirit on his new album, The Golden Crystal Kingdom