Sidecar Cocktail

This Sidecar with Dried Cherries, a recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa, is a twist on an old classic cocktail and is perfect for the holidays.

Dried cherries soaked in warmed cognac deliver a sweet and boozy bite between sips. This cocktail is perfectly sweet, tart, and delicious in every way!

How to Make Sidecar with Dried Cherries

Note: The full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.

Pour the juice of 1 lemon into a shallow bowl and put the sugar on a small plate. Dip the rim of 2 highball or martini glasses first in the lemon juice and then in the sugar. Set them aside to dry.

In a small bowl, combine the dried cherries with 2 ounces of Cognac and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Set aside.

Combine the 3 ounces of lemon juice with the remaining 4 ounces of Cognac, the Grand Marnier, and 1 teaspoon of the marinated cherry liquid.

Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full of ice and pour in the cocktail mixture. Shake the mixer for 30 seconds and strain the sidecar into the prepared glasses straight up or over ice.

Thread 3 or 4 marinated cherries on small skewers and serve each drink ice-cold with a skewer of cherries. Enjoy our Delicious Sidecar with dried cherries!

 Pair with

 You may also like

Recipe

Easy Sidecar Cocktail

by Camila Benitez

This Sidecar with Dried Cherries, a recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa, is a twist on an old classic cocktail and is perfect for the holidays. Dried cherries soaked in warmed cognac deliver a sweet and boozy bite between sips. This cocktail is perfectly sweet, tart, and delicious in every way!

Español

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 968 kcal

Equipment

• Cocktail Shaker
• Strainer
• Juicer
• Measuring cups

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ Juice of 1 lemon , for sugaring the glasses
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ ¼ cup dried cherries or cranberries
• ▢ 6 ounces good Cognac (VS not VSOP), divided
• ▢ 3 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• ▢ 3 ounces Grand Marnier liqueur or Grand Gala
• ▢ Ice

Instructions

 

• Pour the juice of 1 lemon into a shallow bowl and put the sugar on a small plate. Dip the rim of 2 highball or martini glasses first in the lemon juice and then in the sugar. Set them aside to dry.
• In a small bowl, combine the dried cherries with 2 ounces of Cognac and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Set aside.
• Combine the 3 ounces of lemon juice with the remaining 4 ounces of Cognac, the Grand Marnier, and 1 teaspoon of the marinated cherry liquid.
• Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full of ice and pour in the cocktail mixture. Shake the mixer for a full 30 seconds and strain the sidecar into the prepared glasses either straight up or over ice.
• Thread 3 or 4 marinated cherries on small skewers and serve each drink ice-cold with a skewer of cherries. Enjoy our Delicious Sidecar with dried cherries!

Notes

How to Store

Storing and reheating the Sidecar Cocktail is not recommended, as it's meant to be served chilled and freshly made. However, if you need to store it for a short period, you can pour it into an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. 

Make-Ahead

You can sugar the rim of the glasses a few hours ahead of time and then store them in the refrigerator until ready to use. This will save time and make it easier to assemble the cocktails later on. You can soak the dried cherries in cognac a day ahead and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

This will allow the cherries to absorb the cognac and fully create a more intense flavor. You can mix the cocktail ingredients together a few hours ahead of time and then store them in the refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to serve, pour the cocktail mixture into a shaker with ice, shake well, and strain into the sugared glasses.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Easy Sidecar Cocktail

Amount per Serving

Calories

968

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

 

0.1

g

1

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

0.2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

0.03

g

Sodium

 

16

mg

1

%

Potassium

 

147

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

 

107

g

36

%

Fiber

 

5

g

21

%

Sugar

 

95

g

106

%

Protein

 

3

g

6

%

Vitamin A

 

1094

IU

22

%

Vitamin C

 

45

mg

55

%

Calcium

 

51

mg

5

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided is an estimate, calculated using standard data sources. Actual values may vary based on ingredient brands, preparation methods, and portion sizes. This information is for general reference only and should not be considered a substitute for professional dietary advice.