This is a unique, festive twist on a classic Sidecar cocktail, which makes it great for the holidays. We incorporate the lavish blood orange to elevate the flavors. A classic Sidecar contains cognac, orange liquor, and lemon juice. Here, we substitute blood orange juice for lemon juice and use Solerno blood orange liquor instead of Cointreau.
[ sidenote on the definition of Cognac… Cognac is brandy made in the region of Cognac, France. Brandy – a distilled wine spirit – can be made anywhere. This is similar to Champagne which can only be made in the Champagne region of France. It goes by other names (Cava (Spain), Prosecco (Italy)) when produced elsewhere ]
As we get close to the holidays, we are all looking for the something special to put on the table. For some, it’s a fun side dish. For others, it’s the centerpiece (a Christmas goose or rack of lamb). Still for others, it will be that speakeasy-grade cocktail that people will remember for years to come. This is that cocktail.
Not to get all Yogic on you guys, but Manipura, the third chakra associated with the fire element, is translated from Sanskrit to mean “City of Jewels.” In Vinyasa yoga classes, it is frequently the chakra associated with the intensity of holding positions, such as planks, to generate ‘burn’ within the workout. I called this Sidecar The City of Jewels because it has that intensity, that sweet, intricate balance of citrus and velvet smooth. Plus, the rim is sparkly.
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1 1/2 oz Brandy or Cognac of choice (Courvoisier will do just fine)
3/4 oz Solerno blood orange liquor
3/4 oz blood orange juice
Garnish: Blood orange wedge, thyme sprig, and/or cinnamon sugar rim
If you want to rim your cocktail glass, run the blood orange around the edge then dip it in a cinnamon/sugar mixture.
Combine all liquids in a cocktail shaker with a thyme sprig, if desired, and shake vigorously with ice.
Pour into cocktail glass, garnish, and serve!
I have recently mastered a new go-to spring mocktail leveraging one of my all-time favorite cocktail ingredients: Damask Rose Water. The result is that this indulgence comes in two forms: cocktail and mocktail. This, my friends, is springtime in a glass. If you need to freshen up, leave the gin. If you’re down, 1oz of Bo & Ivy has you covered.
Imagine your favorite bourbon (or rye) poured over that 2 inch ice cube – that satisfying crack the ice makes when the liquid hits its surface. Knowing that your drink only gets sweeter the closer you get to emptying your glass because the sugar crystals tend to collect at the bottom. A deeply caramelized orange peel rests on top; notes of burnt sugar and citrus fill your nose every time you take a sip. Now, let’s take this classic cocktail to the next level with… smoke. Smoked Old Fashioneds have become somewhat of a popular thing around the five star dining scene but it is surprisingly not that difficult to replicate at home.
[…] it more when I adjusted the portions and substituted in Cognac. My version is below. Alongside the City of Jewels Cocktail these are both great experimental cocktail […]