Earl Grey Cobbler Mocktail

This very simple but unique mocktail is based on the Cobbler cocktail. Cobblers combine spirits with crushed ice, fruit, and just a touch of sweetener. Here we're replacing the spirits with earl grey tea for a refreshing and very flavorful twist on the classic.

What is a Cobbler-style drink?

Cobblers are a very early style of cocktail that are said to have originated in the US. The classic Cobbler was a mix of sherry, a small amount of sweetener, and crushed ice topped with seasonal fruit. Interestingly, it's the Sherry Cobbler and its mountain of crushed ice that is credited with popularizing the drinking straw.

This Cobbler mocktail variation features chilled earl grey tea in place of wine or spirit, with a touch of simple syrup and some muddled citrus. The result is a wonderfully refreshing drink that pairs well with a summer afternoon and a good book. Top with fresh mint and berries and enjoy! (I used a raspberry, a blackberry, and a physalis or "golden berry").

Earl Grey Cobbler ingredients

You only need a few ingredients to make this mocktail. In addition to Earl Grey tea, you'll need one orange, some crushed ice, and a little simple syrup.

Earl Grey tea

For maximum flavor, it's important to brew your tea a little in advance so that it's cool by the time you're ready to make your mocktail. If the tea is still hot, it will be too watered down after shaking with ice. If you're short on time, you can brew an extra strong cup of tea (use 2-3 tea bags per cup of hot water instead of 1). If you have time to plan ahead, making a batch of tea the day before and chill it in the refrigerator. This is also really helpful when making these mocktails for a group.

Citrus slices

You'll need a few thinly sliced pieces of orange for this recipe. A slice refers to half of an orange wheel (learn more about cutting citrus in my How to Make Garnishes for Beginners.) Choose a plump, juicy, ripe orange for the best flavor. While orange is the classic choice, one of the great things about Cobblers is that they're pretty flexible in terms of exact ingredients. If you don't have an orange, you could substitute with lemon. Really, any citrus could be used in most Cobbler recipes. And for this mocktail, you could use anything from lime to grapefruit because all citrus fruit pairs wonderfully with the bergamot flavor of Earl Grey tea!

Simple syrup

Simple syrup is a mix of equal parts sugar and water. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to cook the syrup on the stove. You can just add equal parts sugar and warm water to a mason jar and stir or shake until the sugar dissolves. Easy peasy. Here you'll only need ¼ oz of syrup, which is 1.5 tsp. Make a very quick small batch of simple syrup by mixing ½ cup sugar and ½ cup warm water. Learn all about simple syrup in my Complete Guide to Simple Syrup.

Crushed ice

Ice is sometimes overlooked as a drink ingredient but it's crucial to getting the right dilution and temperature! Crushed ice is used in Cobblers because it adds a lot of dilution and keep everything very cold. You can crush you own ice by adding several cubes to a ziplock bag, wrapping the bag in a kitchen towel, and breaking up the cubes with a mallet. I actually use the flat side of a metal meat tenderizer to break up my ice and it makes very quick work of it! If you're really into your ice or use a lot of crushed ice, consider getting a nugget ice maker like this one from GE.

Variations on this recipe

This mocktail template is easy to riff on. Mix things up and add more flavors by muddling some fresh fruit or using a flavored syrup in place of simple syrup. I recently made a variation on this mocktail with raspberry syrup (see below) instead of simple syrup. The citrusy, floral bergamot that flavors earl grey tea pairs very well with a variety of fruits.

Can I substitute another tea?

Sure! I've made it with a variety of teas including Earl Grey, chamomile, and even a caffeine-free, citrusy, minty tea from Tazo called Wild Sweet Orange. You can also muddle berries or other fruit directly into the cocktail, or swap the muddled orange slices for lemon or lime. It's a versatile template that makes for delicious and light drinks, whether fortified with spirits or not.

How to make this mocktail

Once you have your cooled tea, simple syrup and sliced citrus, add the fruit and syrup to a cocktail shaker. Press the citrus slices with a muddler to release their juices and oils from the peel. Next, add the tea and fill the shaker with cubed ice. Shake until chilled, then double strain the liquid into a glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with mint and berries or other seasonal fruit and enjoy!

You may also enjoy these other popular mocktail recipes:

• Basil Lime Smash Mocktail
• Pineapple Chamomile Lemonade
• Blackberry Paloma Mocktail
• Blood Orange Turmeric Ginger Mocktail
• Blackberry Jamble Mocktail