The message went out weeks ago over Twitter: “Try our Bourbon Cobbler.” Since Bourbons Bistro is one of Louisville's foremost authorities on all things bourbon — and I do love a frosty, fruity bourbon cocktail in the summer — you didn't have to twist my arm.
Cobblers are a summer classic, and it's high time we brought back the cocktail as an alternative to the dessert. Like its namesake, a cobbler cocktail mixes fruit and sugar, but rather than baking until golden brown, you add these ingredients to a base spirit and serve over ice.
The Bourbon Cobbler ($10) at Bourbons Bistro naturally puts the emphasis on the bourbon, enhanced by vanilla sugar and lemon. The bartender starts with their house bourbon, Ancient Age, and mixes in a simple syrup made from bourbon-vanilla sugar, a splash of house-made sour mix, a little soda water and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Served in a tall glass over crushed ice with a wedge of lemon and a maraschino cherry, this cobbler is a sweet and tangy treat that allows the bourbon to shine through.
