Shoes and cocktails. A necessary combination. Appear without shoes — and possibly a matching shirt — and you get no service. Out of luck. Monsooned in the middle of nowhere.

And who would want to miss out on such service as the bartender in this video — serving up a wonderfully flexible cocktail type — the cobbler. The cobbler, like the highball, comes in many forms and is not limited to one spirit. It may come in different types of glassware, and you may also find some containing fruit and/or a wine-based spirit. But, two defining characteristics lie at the heart of this cocktail: sugar and crushed ice. Nothing like knowing you have a long path ahead of you with a couple scoops of sugar and ice that’s as easy on the eyes as….well, I’m sure you know who you’re thinking of.

I’ve come to enjoy the cobbler myself, even before I knew its name. The flexibility of fresh fruit you can add, molding the crushed or fine ice over the top of the glass — it really makes for an enjoyable cocktailing experience. You just sit back, kick your feet up, and look at your shoes in front of you. The shoes that you spent good money on, that you take TSA-type levels of security to prevent anyone or anything from getting on, that you whisper a couple sweet nothings to before returning them to your hanging shoe rack with cedar inserts, or right after you place the aluminum shoe trees that your father gave you into each one. You look at the sole — getting a bit worn, maybe from the time you spent running to the train before your job interview. And, egads — a scuff near the heel! No worries…all it takes is a trip down to see your favorite cobbler. Not the one with rye whiskey, brandy, muddled white peaches, and demerara sugar, but the one that knows exactly what your shoes need and how to get them there. Although, he’s kind of like the guy that serves you your favorite cobbler — always hospitable, offering just the right service at the right time, and gets you back on your feet in no time. Cheers, gents.