Schusters Summer Spritz Syrup Basil-Lime. Apple cider vinegar-based aperitif syrup made from limes and basil – green, fresh, for sparkling water, sparkling wine, and wine spritzers.

Schusters Summer Spritz Syrup Basil-Lime is a vinegar-based fruit syrup made from limes, basil, apple cider vinegar, and sugar from the Schusters Shrub family manufactory in Untersteinbach in the Steigerwald forest. It is the newest and greenest variety in the Summer Spritz line: lime fruit, fresh herbal notes, mild acidity, 250 ml in a glass bottle. No herbal liqueur, no bar-shelf lime syrup, no added flavorings – the fruit and herbs come solely from limes and fresh basil leaves.

Summer Spritz Syrup Basil-Lime from Schusters Shrub was added to the Summer Spritz line in spring 2026 as the third variety. It is made like a shrub, the vinegar-based fruit syrup made from fruit, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. Limes and fresh basil leaves steep in the apple cider vinegar for several weeks and are then strained; the fruit vinegar is sweetened with sugar and bottled hot. The difference from a classic shrub is the intended use: this syrup is meant for an aperitif glass, mixed with sparkling mineral water, sparkling wine, or as a spritzer with white wine. According to the manufacturer, the aroma comes solely from lime and basil, with no added flavorings.

Taste

The Summer Spritz Basil-Lime tastes green and fresh. The lime provides fruit and clear acidity, the basil adds the herbal note, and the apple cider vinegar holds both together.

In the glass, the herb comes through first—peppery and slightly sweet like a freshly picked leaf. Then the lime follows, juicy and sharp, and the acidity from the fruit and vinegar carries the spritz through to the last sip. Of the three varieties in the line, this is the greenest, both in aroma and character.

Those expecting a clear limeade will find the herbal note too prominent. Basil in a glass is a matter of taste: those who only know the leaf from tomato salad might need a sip or two to get used to it.

Usage

For the manufactory's Herbal Spritz, pour 2 cl of syrup over ice and top with sparkling mineral water. Add a lime slice and a few basil leaves on top. The manufacturer highlights this non-alcoholic version first for this variety.

Top with sparkling wine or Prosecco to make a Summer Spritz. For a wine spritzer deluxe, add 2 cl of syrup, a lime slice, and ice to a glass, followed by 8 cl of dry white wine and 150 ml of sparkling mineral water, finishing with basil leaves. For those who like to mix, add white rum: the Basil Mojito 2.0 brings lime, herbs, and sweetness from a single bottle.

Store the bottle in a cool, dark place. According to the manufacturer, the syrup remains shelf-stable even after opening without refrigeration; unopened, it lasts for three years.

Our tip: Add the basil to the glass only just before serving, and press the leaves between your fingers beforehand. This releases the leaf's oils, allowing the fragrance to hover over the glass before the first sip.

Origin

Schusters Shrub is a small family manufactory in Untersteinbach in the Steigerwald forest, a district of Rauhenebrach in the Haßberge district of Franconia. Hanna Schuster, a food technologist, discovered shrubs during a semester abroad in Pennsylvania and developed the first recipe with her mother; the first varieties were released in 2012.

The term "shrub" is derived from the raspberry-vinegar drink consumed in the 19th-century United States; the manufacturer traces the name back to the Arabic "sharba" for syrup. The Summer Spritz line began in 2024 with Hibiscus-Raspberry, followed by Rosemary-Grapefruit in 2025, and Basil-Lime as the newest variety in spring 2026. According to the manufacturer, product development, quality management, bottling, and packaging all take place on-site in their glass-fronted production facility with a farm shop; the family handles the bottling themselves. You can find more about the family on our Schusters Shrub page.

For whom

The Summer Spritz Basil-Lime is the bottle for anyone who prefers freshness over sweetness in an aperitif and likes herbs in their glass. It is perfect for lunch on the terrace, a wine spritzer after work, and guests looking for a non-alcoholic option better than lemonade. With 2 cl per glass, 250 ml is enough for a good twelve glasses.

If you prefer berries and a ruby-red color, choose the Summer Spritz Syrup Hibiscus-Raspberry; for something tart and bitter, go for the Summer Spritz Syrup Rosemary-Grapefruit. Further syrups can be found in our Syrup category. Basil-Lime is not suitable for glasses that will sit on a buffet for a long time: the herbal note is fleeting and belongs in a freshly mixed glass.

Lime and basil in apple cider vinegar – the green aperitif syrup from Schusters Shrub in the Steigerwald for sparkling water, sparkling wine, and an after-work wine spritzer.