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!
Whether you like your butterbeer hot, iced, boozy, or clean, I’ve finally got the recipe for you. Personally, I see no way to drink it other than hot and boozy. #youreawizardharry 🪄
Blood and Sand Whether it is the last of the fall leaves or the #wintervibes, for whatever reason what I woke up craving today was a scotch-based beverage. Not bourbon. Scotch. And yes, when I say I woke up craving it, I mean to say I wanted scotch before coffee. Blood and Sand is a cocktail that’s been around since about 1930. I adjust it slightly to make it more to my liking – less
[…] 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 […]