Shrub Alcoholic Cordial

Wine information: J R Phillips was once Bristol’s oldest wine merchant was started in 1739. In 1804 the company took on a new accountant, James Rouquet Phillips, later to become a partner. In 1825, James George sold the firm, now known as JR Phillips, to his partner, who together with his sons, William and Augustus, built up a best- selling line – Old English cordials. Available in seven flavours – Pink cloves, Lovage, White Peppermint, Green Peppermint, Aniseed, Grenadine and Shrub – now mainly used in cocktails. Originally produced as medication – and for the prevention of illness on long sea voyages – these included lime juice (for the prevention of scurvy), celery-flavoured lovage (for rheumatism) and shrub, a potent mixture of juices and alcohol guaranteed to keep colds at bay. The Phillips of Bristol range has recently been repackaged with a new bottle shape, to emphasis the heritage of the medicine shaped bottle, and a new label focusing on the Clifton Suspension bridge, where it all began back in 1739. A cordial is an alcoholic infusion of herbs or other plants and is often thought to have invigorating or stimulating properties (the word cordial is really interchangeable with liqueur). The Phillips' of Bristol cordials are all made to secret recipes handed down to JR Phillips and have a long West Country heritage. Shrub originally used in Cornwall during the old days of rum smuggling to disguise the the bitter taste of sea water that might have got into the rum barrels during the perilous journey from ship to shore. The traditional drink for Shrub is Rum and Shrub, but it can be drunk neat. Rum and Shrub is also the name of a group of Shantymen (sea shanty singers) based in Cornwall.

Please note we are not the UK agents for Phillips of Bristol.

 
     

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