Sherry cobbler facts for kids
A sherry cobbler is a classic American drink. It is made with a type of wine called sherry, along with sugar and citrus fruits. People believe it first appeared in the early 1800s.
The first time anyone wrote about a "cobbler" drink was in 1838. A Canadian traveler named Katherine Jane Ellice mentioned it in her diary. The drink became famous around the world when the famous writer Charles Dickens wrote about it. He included it in his book The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.
To make a sherry cobbler, you mix orange and lemon with a sweet syrup. This mixture is shaken with ice in a special container called a cocktail shaker. Then, it is poured into a tall glass, like a highball glass, filled with crushed ice. People often decorate it with fresh mint leaves, raspberries, or slices of orange and lemon. Sometimes, pineapple pieces or other seasonal berries are also used. Some recipes even add pineapple juice for extra flavor.
What is the History of the Sherry Cobbler?
The sherry cobbler became very popular in the United States during the 1830s. It was one of the most famous mixed drinks in the 1800s. Around this time, drinking straws were invented. This made it much easier to enjoy drinks with crushed ice, like the sherry cobbler.
The first known mention of a "Cobbler" drink was in the diary of Katherine Jane Ellice. The recipe for this drink was also included in one of the very first books for bartenders. This book was called The Bartender's Guide, written by Jerry Thomas in 1862. The original recipe was quite simple, using only three main ingredients:
- 2 small glasses of sherry
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 2 or 3 slices of orange
The sherry cobbler was so well-liked that it inspired many other similar drinks. These included the Champagne Cobbler, Claret Cobbler, and Whiskey Cobbler. In 1888, a bartender named Harry Johnson wrote that the sherry cobbler was "without doubt the most popular beverage in this country." He noted that both ladies and gentlemen enjoyed it. However, like many classic drinks, its popularity slowly faded after the Prohibition period in the United States.
An old recipe from the 1800s for a Fourth of July sherry cobbler used strawberries, lemon peel, powdered sugar, and sherry.
Different Ways to Make a Cobbler Drink
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There are many different versions of cobbler drinks. A drink from Spain called Rebujito is similar to a sherry cobbler. It is made by mixing sherry with a soft drink, usually a white lemonade or a lemon-lime soda.
Older cobbler recipes did not usually include mashed fruits. But because the sherry cobbler became so popular, people started creating more fancy cobbler drinks with various fruits.
One special version was called the King's Cobbler. Instead of sherry, it used a bitter Italian drink called Zucca rabarbaro. This drink also included mashed strawberries, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup. It was often decorated with a mint leaf.
Another variation is the Champagne cobbler. This drink is made with mashed pineapple, lemon, and orange. It also uses a cherry-flavored liqueur called Maraschino and Champagne.
