Sidecars with Dried Cherries are a new twist on an old classic cocktail. Dried cherries are soaked in warmed cognac, offering a sweet and boozy bite between sips. This cocktail is perfectly sweet, perfectly tart, and absolutely perfect in every way!
I adore classic cocktails.
I’m certain I have at least 4 books dedicated to the art of mixology. All of which include the same, standard recipes.
Which don’t get me wrong – I love drinking mastering the classics. But sometimes, you just need the volume turned up a tad.
Enter: these Sidecars with Dried Cherries.
Traditionally, this cocktail is made using Cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon. All ingredients which you’ll find here, too.
But there’s something about finding the right balance of ingredients.
Not too much lemon juice.
Not TOO much Cognac.
And certainly not too much orange liqueur.
Ina Garten certainly has found that perfect balance. Let’s all just pause and recognize how amazing Ina Garten is, please. Every time I watch her show or thumb through one of her cookbooks, I desperately wish I were her neighbor in the Hamptons, sipping cocktails in her garden, enjoying a picnic on her yacht in Southampton, and preparing beautiful brunches al fresco.
I mean, come on. The woman paints of picture of luxurious coastal living. What’s not to love?
**Shamelessly continues to quote Ina Garten.
This cocktail is garnished with dried cherries which have taken a warm bath in a bowl of cognac.
Let me repeat myself.
They take a WARM BATH IN A BOWL OF COGNAC.
Ok good – you ARE paying attention.
The result yields a sweet, tart, boozy bite in between sips of this classic drink.
How bad can that be?
Sidecars with Dried Cherries
Ingredients
- 2 Lemon wedges, for rimming the glasses
- 1/4 cups sugar
- 6 oz good Cognac (VS not VSOP), divided
- 3 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
- 3 oz Grand Marnier liqueur
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the dried cherries with 2 ounces of the Cognac and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Set aside.
- To sugar the glass rims, pour the sugar on a small plate. Wet the rim of two highball or martini glasses with the lemon wedges. Dip the rim in the sugar. Set them aside to dry.
- 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 with ice and pour in the cocktail mixture. Shake the mixer for a full 30 seconds (it's longer than you think!) and strain 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.