For most people, the word “shrub” evokes a short, woody plant, but a shrub can also be a fruit-based beverage – and that’s what Durango’s Sunbird specializes in.
“Sunbird is a shrub and herbal vinegar drink elixir bar,” owner and founder Brooke Barhart said. “We make and sell shrubs with hand-harvested local fruit and fresh herbs and infuse it into apple cider vinegar to make a nice non-alcoholic drink mixer, great for mocktails or sodas.”
The fruit is harvested locally, primarily in the Animas Valley. A lot of it is gleaned fruits that would otherwise go to waste, and finding use for it is a good way to preserve it, she said.
Using locally-sourced ingredients is important to Sunbird because it helps show people the value of local produce, Barhart said.
“That can have an impact on people choosing local versus a syrup or a soda from Coca-Cola or something like that,” she said.
Barhart said this is Sunbird’s first full season at the Durango Farmers Market, adding it’ll also be at the Telluride Farmers Market this year. Her elixirs can also currently be found at James Ranch Market, and she is working to get them into other local stores and bars.
Barhart said she wants to branch out into making local bitters in the future, but for now she is focusing mostly on the herbal drink mixers.
“We’re mostly trying to promote alcohol alternative options for people because I think it’s a needed thing in the community – to just have something fun and refreshing and, you know, a fancy drink that’s not alcoholic,” she said.
ngonzales@durangoherald.com
