Cave Country Canoe’s Out of the Blue Coffee & Ice Cream
It might surprise you that Indiana is second in the entire country for ice cream production, and that the average American consumes approximately 20 pounds of it each year.
With that kind of demand, Sherri Nail, owner of Cave Country Canoes, decided to add a coffee and ice cream shop to her current business. The name she chose for it? Out of the Blue Coffee & Ice Cream, and boy, are you in for a treat.
With her canoe business being located literally right along the banks of the Blue River in Milltown, and since there aren’t a whole lot of other things in this tiny Southern Indiana town, it does seem like an ice cream shop here is out of the blue.
With her canoe business being located literally right along the banks of the Blue River in Milltown, and since there aren’t a whole lot of other things in this tiny Southern Indiana town, it does seem like an ice cream shop here is out of the blue. But Sherri isn’t the type to make decisions off the cuff or rush into things too quickly. She’ll tell you that before she does something, she thinks it through for a good while. That shows.
When you walk into the ice cream shop, you’re greeted by its bright, cheery atmosphere and friendly staff — two of whom are Sherri’s own daughters. When the shop first opened, it had the capability to make one shake at a time. Now it can crank out three at a time. That comes in real handy on Saturdays when there are a couple thousand people there on an average weekend. The shop went from originally offering 16 flavors of ice cream to now giving 24 flavors to choose from.
There are some of the traditional standbys like vanilla, butter pecan and mint chip, but there are lots of others with unique and catchy names. Sea Turtle is without a doubt one of the most popular flavors.
There are some of the traditional standbys like vanilla, butter pecan and mint chip, but there are lots of others with unique and catchy names. Sea Turtle is without a doubt one of the most popular flavors. Sherri jokingly said, “If Sea Turtle ever went away, there’d be a riot.” Another top seller is Jacked Up Tennessee Toffee, with an ever-so-slight taste of whiskey. The Dirty Polar Bear is also highly recommended. This is a little different concoction, made with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso.
The shop also offers hot and iced coffees, and the menus have changed up this year, with drinks like the S’mores Latte, Kentucky Cowboy and Oatmeal Cream Pie Latte. Sherri said, “Our Cookie Butter Coffee is very comforting. It’s like Thanksgiving in a cup.” She added, “We make a killer blackberry shake, too.”
Out of the Blue now offers wraps and other sandwiches, including breakfast sandwiches. The selections vary from day to day but may be something like chicken salad or the all-time favorite peanut butter and jelly. Cinnamon rolls are usually always on hand.
After you’ve been out on the river in a canoe or kayak for several hours, you may want something to eat that’s a little more than ice cream or coffee. With that in mind, Out of the Blue now offers wraps and other sandwiches, including breakfast sandwiches. The selections vary from day to day but may be something like chicken salad or the all-time favorite peanut butter and jelly. Cinnamon rolls are usually always on hand.
When deciding on which brands of ice cream to carry in the store, Sherri and her crew traveled hundreds of miles and tasted what seemed like hundreds of different ice creams before settling on two — Ashby’s and Kiki’s. Both have a high cream content, which is what makes them taste so amazing. Kiki’s was chosen in part because of its quality selection of allergen-conscious varieties, like non-dairy and gluten-free.
When deciding on which brands of ice cream to carry in the store, Sherri and her crew traveled hundreds of miles and tasted what seemed like hundreds of different ice creams before settling on two — Ashby’s and Kiki’s. Both have a high cream content, which is what makes them taste so amazing. Kiki’s was chosen in part because of its quality selection of allergen-conscious varieties, like non-dairy and gluten-free.
“It’s so fun to see all of them sit out here after church. It’s not just canoes anymore … it’s become a gathering spot.”
Sunday seems to be the day many of the locals come by. “It’s so fun to see all of them sit out here after church,” Sherri said. “It’s not just canoes anymore … it’s become a gathering spot.” And that makes her very happy. There’s a bar and tall chairs to sit and enjoy your treats inside, along with the gorgeous handmade wood and resin table that Sherri’s husband, Derek, made. But you can also find several seats outside on the new deck, complete with colorful umbrellas and a long bench where you can be near the river and watch all the activity here.
The gift shop is next door, filled with all sorts of waterproof bags for your cell phone and other belongings that you take with you on the river, along with T-shirts and other practical items.
Most of the employees here are area teens that Sherri enjoys mentoring. Any of them who work two seasons get to go on a trip as a thank you. Sixteen of them recently returned from whitewater rafting in West Virginia, and Sherri also gives two $250 scholarships out each year.
Be sure to check outofthebluecoffee.com for special events, hours and more — while you’re enjoying some coffee and ice cream, of course.•
Find out more information at outofthebluecoffee.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Out-of-the-Blue-Coffee-Ice-Cream-100092165134816/
Story and Photos by Michelle Hardman
.
silivingmag.com 