Sherry Cobbler
A fruity and refreshing cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 12.3% ABV ∙
The Sherry Cobbler is a chilled sherry cocktail of Amontillado and Palo Cortado sherry shaken with sugar and citrus, then strained over crushed ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Amontillado sherry 45 mlPalo Cortado sherry 45 mlPowdered sugar 1 bspFresh lemon 1/2 sliceOrange 1/2 slice
- Strain into the julep cocktail cup filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with a seasonal berry, an orange slice and a lemon slice
Tips
- Shake hard to dissolve the powdered sugar and press juice and oils from the lemon and orange, then strain over a glass packed with crushed ice.
History
The Sherry Cobbler is an American drink whose exact origin is undocumented, but it is believed to have emerged in the United States sometime in the 1820s or 1830s. The earliest known written mention appears in an 1838 diary kept by Katherine Jane Ellice, a traveler who encountered the drink while touring resorts in upstate New York. Cocktail historian David Wondrich is credited with uncovering this reference. The name "cobbler" is thought to refer to the cobbles of crushed ice used to fill the glass, a novelty made possible as ice became more widely available in America starting in the 1830s.
The drink gained wider, international recognition after Charles Dickens featured it in his novel The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, introducing British readers to the American fashion of sipping a chilled drink through a straw. The Sherry Cobbler became one of the most popular mixed drinks in the United States and abroad through the mid-to-late 19th century. Bartender Jerry Thomas included a recipe for it in his 1862 guide How to Mix Drinks, cementing its place among the era's essential cocktails.
FAQ
What makes a cobbler cocktail?
Spirit or wine, sugar, and fruit, served over crushed ice that chills and slowly dilutes the drink as it sits. The Sherry Cobbler uses two sherries, sugar, lemon, and orange, and is garnished with fresh fruit.
What is the alcohol content of a Sherry Cobbler?
About 12% ABV, much lighter than most spirit-based cocktails because it is made with sherry, not a distilled spirit. The crushed ice keeps diluting it as it melts, so it is an easy, low-proof sipper.
How do you make a Sherry Cobbler?
Shake Amontillado and Palo Cortado sherry with powdered sugar, lemon, and orange over ice, then strain into a julep glass packed with crushed ice. Garnish with a seasonal berry, an orange slice, and a lemon slice.
What glass is a Sherry Cobbler served in?
A julep glass packed with crushed ice. Straining the drink over crushed ice, rather than a few cubes, is what makes a Sherry Cobbler so cold and slushy.
