We thought we'd keep with this shrub thing after last week's Strawberry Gin Shrub recipe, since it's new to us (and probably you) and is actually quite delicious. At this week's CUESA farmers' market cocktail event, there were a number of highlights including an apple-chartreuse-Bols Genever concoction from Alicia Walton of Elixir, a raspberry and Galliano drink from 15 Romolo, and a peach cocktail from H. Joseph Ehrmann.

The Blackberry Shrub being served on the rocks and concocted by Allison Evanow, founder of Square One Organic Spirits, was a favorite that night, and a riff on a standard shrub. The primary booze in the drink is Square One's new "Botanical," which isn't a vodka, isn't a gin, and belongs in this new-ish category of liquors called botanicals, of which gin could be considered a member. It's made using rye and a number of botanical infusions, including pear, rose, lemon verbena, coriander and citrus peel -- but no juniper, so it doesn't taste like gin. (For those gin lovers among you, the drink below could easily be made with gin also.)

Blackberry Shrub

1 1/2 oz. Square One Botanical (or gin)
1/2 oz. Rhum Clement Creole Shrubb (or Cointreau)
1/2 oz. blackberry shrub syrup (recipe below)
1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
ginger beer
2 sprigs of rosemary
blackberries for garnish