On a weekday night at, say about 11 p.m., you may find yourself at Proper drinking a shrub. Don’t spit it out! It’s good for you, and by now you’ve surely noticed, it’s also delicious.
A shrub at Proper, 300 E. Congress St., doesn’t mean the plant. It’s actually a potent, fruity drinking vinegar, used in cultures throughout the world as everything from a refreshment to a medicinal tonic, and has become incredibly trendy on the bar scene. Proper’s version — made by blending figs with apple cider vinegar — adds that special tangy element to their rye drink, the Figgy Stardust.
So drink up, because there’s another syrup you need to try, one you may become plumb crazy for: deep, fruity plum bitters from the New York-based Fee Brothers. A dash of this stuff adds a special something to Proper’s Champagne cocktail, The Morrigan.
Orchid pink and delightfully effervescent in its highball glass, the cocktail would be perfect in the afternoon. But it’s also an excellent prelude to your late-night bocadillo. In addition to the plum bitters, bartender Chelsea Carter adds a housemade blackberry cordial spiked with ginger and star anise. The Cruzan light rum barely peeps out its head, leaving the drink delicate and floral, with just enough fruitiness to keep you coming back.
It’s named after its color: The vivid, purple-pink hue reminded General Manager Kim Bower of Morrigan, the Celtic warrior goddess. Also known as the “phantom queen,” Morrigan often takes the form of a raven, and symbolizes a number of concepts including war, fertility and death. She is alluring, almost dangerously beautiful.
But beware, she’s more powerful than you think.
