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!
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Recipe
Easy Sidecar Cocktail
Ingredients
- 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
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.