Oregano Cobbler

Inspired By:

Alba Huerta

Complexity

Alcohol Level

3/5

Medium

Type

Sour

Preparation

Shaken

Glass

Cobbler

Ice

Crushed

INGREDIENTS

SONKLIN • 45 ml / 1.5 oz

Bianco vermouth • 30 ml / 1 oz

Fresh lime juice • 20 ml / 0.75 oz

Fino gomme syrup • 20 ml / 0.75 oz (See recipe below. NOTE: Simple syrup can be substituted 1:1 if fino gomme is unavailable)

Fresh oregano sprigs • 3-4

Fino Gomme Syrup:

Tio Pepe Fino sherry • 2 bottles (750 ml each)

White granulated sugar • 1550 g

Gomme arabic prime solution • 2 ounces

STEPS

1. For Fino Gomme Syrup: Combine sugar and sherry in medium pot and place on low heat. Stir mixture until blended, then let sit on low heat for 90 minutes, stirring briefly every 15 minutes. After 90 minutes, remove from heat and add two ounces gomme Arabic; stir in until completely dissolved. Cool and bottle.

2. Add SONKLIN, bianco vermouth, lime juice, fino gomme syrup and oregano sprigs to a mixing tin

3. Add ice and shake until chilled

4. Double strain into a cobbler glass over crushed ice

5. Garnish with fresh oregano sprigs

NOTES:

Alba Huerta's rediscovery of bianco vermouth as a spirit-forward ingredient shows how underutilized vermouths can anchor sophisticated cocktails. The fino gomme syrup brings sherry's savory character while the gomme arabic creates body and texture. Fresh oregano is crucial - dried will make the drink taste medicinal.

Alternative: If you don't have fino gomme syrup, simple syrup works perfectly well as a 1:1 substitution. The drink loses some complexity but maintains its core savory-herbaceous character. The fino gomme adds depth and sherry notes, but the core of the drink (fresh oregano, bianco, and SONKLIN) remains intact.

Batched Version: Prepare fino gomme syrup well in advance (keeps for months). Mix SONKLIN, bianco, lime juice and syrup in a pitcher. Shake with fresh oregano to order.

HISTORY

For most of the latter part of the 19th Century, Vermouth Bianco went mostly unnoticed. Alba Huerta and a new generation of bartenders have been rediscovering it both as a delicious and versatile cocktail modifier and stand-alone aperitif. The Oregano Cobbler represents a move toward savory, herbal cocktails.

SOKLIN's delicate nature allows fresh oregano and bianco's subtle botanicals to shine without overwhelming the spirit. This is a drink that bridges Spanish aperitivo culture with rice spirit's agricultural heritage.