recipe
Sherry Cobbler: It was the drink of the 19th century, now it’s experiencing a revival
If you order a Sherry Cobbler, you are sure to get envious looks. The summery drink comes with a whole fruit bouquet. On top of that, it is uniquely refreshing. But beware: the mixture has it all!
At the end of the 19th century, the Sherry Cobbler was pretty much what the Gin & Tonic is today – everyone’s favorite drink. Absolutely mainstream. It was “without a doubt the most popular drink in the country, both with ladies and gentlemen,” wrote mixed culture pioneer Harry Johnson in 1882. A drink made to refresh: a glass filled to the brim with ice, lots and lots of sherry, sugar, garnished with a fruit salad. He doesn’t need more, the alcohol-strong eye-catcher.
When sherry went out of fashion, so did the cobbler. Nowadays it must be with the devil, if you find him on the map. Bartender Maren Meyer agrees that it’s long time to dust off the old sherry bottles. In an interview with the star she raved about it recently, calling it a rediscovery. It is a diverse and relaxed spirit with a low volume percentage, “which can be enjoyed almost at any time of the day”.
Why should the Sherry Cobbler experience a revival? Because it’s a perfect summer drink – fruity and refreshing. It’s also incredibly easy to mix. However, one should not underestimate the potency of the drink. There is at least 10 cl of sherry in it. The following recipe is inspired by Difford’s Guide.
Recipe for the Sherry Cobbler
This comes in:
- 35ml Fino Sherry
- 35ml Amontillado Sherry
- 35ml Cream Sherry
- 7.5 ml lemon juice or pineapple juice
- 7.5 ml orange juice or orange marmalade
- fresh fruits
- mint leaves
- crushed ice
How to mix it:
Shake liquid ingredients over ice. Then strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a potpourri of fruit, preferably with a slice of orange, berries and some mint leaves.
Teaser image: Getty images / Ekaterina Senyutina
fun fact: According to legend, we also owe the straw to the Sherry Cobbler. Because the sherry drink, conceived to refresh, came with a nuisance: crushed ice. This made drinking from the glass so difficult that an aid was needed. The massive use in the Cobbler is said to have brought the drinking straw to the tableau too internationally.