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Craft cocktails are all the rage, and with so many great mixologists in the city of Detroit, it’s no surprise that you may want to learn how to whip up a craft cocktail or soda at home. Thanks to local company McClary Bros., doing so is a breeze.
McClary Bros. is making a name for itself, in the city of Detroit and beyond. You’ve likely seen the store at The Rust Belt Market, or perhaps you watched founder Jess Sanchez-McClary on ABC’s “Shark Tank” last fall.
The drinking vinegar, or “shrub,” business has grown tremendously since then, and McClary Bros. has been setting record high sales each month, according to Sanchez-McClary.
In December, McClary Bros. opened a tasting room, located on Grand River in Farmington, where patrons can browse a gift shop with cocktail glasses, bar accessories, T-shirts, and of course, drinking vinegars.
(Jess Sanchez-McClary, photo courtesy of R.K. Moore)
“Our tasting room in Farmington, similar to our space in The Rust Belt, allows customers to sample our current offerings including new flavors and ask all of their burning questions about how to use drinking vinegar,” Sanchez-McClary said.
At the tasting room, staff will show customers how to make various cocktails through a variety of demos. For those who aren’t familiar with drinking vinegars, these demos can be very beneficial. There are also helpful tips and tricks on the McClary Bros. official website, as well as frequent recipe posts on the company’s Facebook page.
“For a simple cocktail, we recommend mixing one and a half ounces of your favorite spirit, one ounce of drinking vinegar and two ounces of sparkling water over ice,” Sanchez-McClary said. “Stir for 30 seconds, add two to three drops of bitters and enjoy!”
Drinking vinegars are incredibly versatile, and make great alternatives to traditional sodas, with just a fraction of the sugar: just mix four to five ounces of sparkling water with one ounce of drinking vinegar. Shrubs can also be used in cooking, by replacing balsamic vinegar typically used in your favorite dressings, marinades and sauces.
A few of McClary Bros. most popular shrub flavors include Detroit Thai Basil, Lemon and Ginger, Michigan Beet and Carrot, Pineapple and Fennel and Michigan Cranberry. In addition to the tasting room, shrubs can be purchased at these southeast Michigan locations.
The McClary Bros. tasting room is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information on the McClary Bros. tasting room, visit the official website.
