Ever wished for a cocktail that is refreshing, fancy, and incredibly chilly for those balmy summer evenings? While the popular Spritz of Venice has been a top choice in recent times, there's a unique, closer-to-home alternative that took cocktail lovers by storm over a century ago.

Introducing the splendid Sherry Cobbler.

This classic cocktail, born in the early 19th century, is historically significant to American mixology. The Cobbler, with its simplistic sophistication, introduced crushed ice and a straw, setting apart the trendy Antebellum drinkers from their peers. Named after the crushed ice that mirrored the cobblestones of early 19th-century affluent areas, the Cobbler soon rose to prominence.

Heading the popularity charts was the Sherry Cobbler. Its exact origins remain unclear, but cocktail historian David Wondrich links its early service to the pioneering bar owner Martha King Niblo. By 1828, Niblo had established Niblo's Garden - a bar and pleasure garden in the green expanse of lower Manhattan's Soho neighborhood.

While working on my book, The Cocktail Parlor: How Women Brought the Cocktail Home, I discovered that women like Martha were key in the Cobbler's rise to popularity. They took it from male-centric bars to jovial summer garden parties and chic ladies’ luncheons.

By the 1830s, the Sherry Cobbler was a phenomenon in America. It sparkled as the first substantial cocktail trend, stretching its fame to all corners of the country and beyond. Far more than a seasonal fad, this was the definitive summer cocktail for nearly half a century.

What made the Sherry Cobbler stand out was its uncomplicated composition and lower alcohol volume. These attributes position it as a frontrunner for this summer's top cocktail.

Sother Teague, New York City’s Amor y Amargo's beverage director, believes the drink is ready for a resurgence. He says, "Sherry, in general, has been seeking a revival for years. The increase in popularity of low ABV could create the opportunity for a summer of Cobblers."

According to Teague, preparing the Cobbler requires simplicity and creativity. The basic ingredients-Sherry, orange slices, sugar, and crushed ice-are shaken with cubed ice, strained over fresh pebble or crushed ice into a suitable glass, and topped with an orange slice.

Unlike the heavier bourbon-based Mint Julep, the sherry-based Cobbler, employs a medium Oloroso or Amontillado style, and offers a rich, nuanced flavor profile that pairs well with fresh orange and a hint of sugar, resulting in a remarkably refreshing cocktail.

Given the Sherry Cobbler's simplicity, there's plenty of room for creativity. Teague encourages experimentations with tropical fruits or different sugars, and even suggests trying a vegetable Cobbler.

Others, like Beverly Hills-based Somerville's beverage director, Steen Bojsen-Moller, recommend experimenting with other aperitif wines, such as vermouth for a Cobbler. The botanical infusions and complex flavor profiles offered by quality vermouths make them an excellent choice.

Kat Hamidi, co-founder of Capitoline vermouth brand, attests to the potential of these sophisticated wines in cocktails. She suggests them as the perfect base for a Cobbler-style aperitivo, especially when accentuated with summer fruits and fresh mint.

So, the next time you're watching the sunset, give the Cobbler a shot as your perfect summertime aperitivo. As Bojsen-Moller puts it, "After a great ocean swim, with salt water drying on your skin, nothing beats a refreshing Cobbler in the company of dear friends.”