New & Noteworthy

Ben & Jerry's built their reputation with premium ice creams in quirky flavors, some named for pop-culture celebrities. The company also pioneered the environmentally conscious, sustainable business model in Vermont. Based on those factors, it should come as no surprise that Ben and Jerry would see our own beloved Willie Nelson as a kindred spirit. After all, the founder of Farm Aid is known for his talent, his individuality, and his support for sustainable fuels and American family farms. The folks at Ben & Jerry's developed Willie Nelson's Country Peach Cobbler Ice Cream in his honor, and what an impressive tribute it is. This is truly marvelous ice cream: a rich vanilla base shot through with a peach swirl, peach chunks, and bits of crunchy cinnamon-sugar shortbread! It sure tastes like summer in the Hill Country. Ben & Jerry's public-relations executive Rob Michalak reports that the Country Peach Cobbler flavor has already rocketed to No. 2 in their list of Top 10 regular flavors, and he assures me it will stay in the regular rotation as long as sales are strong. The Willie Nelson flavor no doubt got a national sales boost from its win in a recent "taste-off" against Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream (vanilla with bits of chocolate-covered waffle cone and a caramel swirl) on the comedian's Comedy Central program. Willie Nelson's Country Peach Cobbler Ice Cream is no joke: Next to homemade, it's the best peach ice cream I've ever had. Look for pints in the ice cream case at your favorite grocery store. The last time I checked, the new flavor had not made it to the four local Ben & Jerry's scoop shops, so maybe some lobbying is called for.