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Your Grandma was Right: The Sidecar
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Recently, I made a batch of Brandied Cherries and had two-thirds of a bottle of brandy left over. I wondered what I could make with it and I remembered the Sidecar. It's a drink that I always associate with old ladies, knitting circles and bridge club. I didn't have any orange liqueur (I know, I'm a disgrace) so I made it with a splash of lemonade and a dash of bitters. Upon tasting this beverage, it has been the only thing I want to drink over the past few weeks.
You can make it with brandy, cognac, bourbon or even dark rum and you can accent it with orange juice, lemon juice or lime juice and any orange liqueur that you have on hand. Regardless of the blend, the result is both rich and refreshing. It also makes me want refer to myself as Blanche Devereaux and sleep with younger men. Maybe that's just me, but if you're a fan of Bea Arthur or Betty White, I think you might enjoy this drink as well. It is best served over a little crushed ice and can be garnished with a lemon or orange rind. if you've made Brandied Cherries (take a pint of Morello or rainier cherries, pit them by scoring them with a paring knife and put them in a mason jar and cover with brandy for six weeks, turning once a week), you'll have a lovely, cherry flavored brandy for your sidecar. if you're using homemade cherry brandy, I recommend using lemon juice instead of lemonade or orange juice to offset the sweetness of the brandy.
Sidecar
2 oz brandy, cognac, dark rum or bourbon
1 oz orange liqueur
1 oz lemon or orange juice
1 dash bitters (optional)
A real benefit to ordering this drink at a bar is that most bartenders can make this drink; my only caution is this: if you see them using sour mix or margarita mix, please stop them. I would also recommend leaving the bar and never going back. If you must stay, I would stick to vodka sodas. Have fun making this drink for your friends under (and over) 65. It's as appropriate for a Wii tournament as it is for a round of bridge. If you feel like paying homage to our mature friends in the Midwest, I recommend the brandy version as accompaniment to a brisk game of cribbage. Break out the quilts and the support hose, the Sidecar is making a comeback!
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