Cobbler

What is a cobbler?

The cobbler is the festive ice act of the bar: wine or spirit, sugar, fresh fruit and a glass full of crushed ice, classically served with a straw. In 19th century America the sherry cobbler was a giant hit, and Jerry Thomas lists the category in his guide of 1862.

The story of the straw

The story goes that the sherry cobbler helped the drinking straw break through in America: from a glass full of ice and fruit, you simply drink better with a straw. Nicely told and well handed down, it does not count as an inventor's certificate for the straw, but the straw stayed loyal to the cobbler to this day.

What makes a cobbler

• Crushed ice to the top: crushed ice chills fast and turns the drink into refreshment, the kinship with the smash is unmistakable, more on that in our smash entry
• Fruit on board: citrus and berries decorate the drink and are ingredients at the same time
• Wine is allowed too: the sherry cobbler is the classic of the house, and the fact that a wine base works here makes the cobbler special

Distinction: cobbler, julep and smash

The julep lives on mint, the smash is its short version, the cobbler swaps the mint for fruit: three siblings, one mountain of ice, each with its own priorities.

Remember: the buck brings ginger, the mule brings copper, the cobbler brings fruit and ice, the julep brings mint, the crusta brings the sugar rim.

At our lounge

If you like it fruity, sweet and ice cold, asking for a cobbler is the best move. The fruit is decoration and ingredient at once, and the straw belongs to it as much as the crushed ice.