My Favorite Drink - The Sidecar

I think everyone needs a signature "go-to" drink when out at a bar or restaurant- whether it's a cheap beer, a standard gin and tonic or some fancy top shelf scotch. My current signature drink is a simple, classy affair known as The Sidecar. If you've spent any time around me lately you've probably already heard my favorite origin story for it - named after an eccentric patron of Harry's Bar in Paris in the early 1900's who showed up every night chauffeured in the sidecar of his motorcyle. The drink was a classic during the WWII era, and then kind of stepped out of the limelight for awhile. If you've never had one then it's about time to give it a try - simple, classy, and delicious. There isn't too much wiggle-room in the recipe, but below is my version which I think brings out every flavor in just the right amount. 


Foggy's Sidecar


Ingredients:

2 oz Cognac (Courvoisier or Remy Martin VS, I prefer the latter)

1 oz Cointreau 

1 oz fresh squeezed lime or lemon juice

.5 oz simple syrup

Instructions:

Wet the rim of a frosted martini glass with lime juice and sugar. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and mix until ice cold. Serve in martini glass with a slice of lemon or orange to garnish.



- Foggy

Some Like It Hot

I'm currently finishing off the last vestiges of the fall season and getting pumped for winter, which is arguably my favorite drinking season. But before the cold weather starts calling for more and more concoctions sipped from mugs and mixed with seasonal flavors like peppermints and egg nogs, I wanted to revisit one of the trickier recipes I've tried to pull off this fall and add a few tweaks that I think give it much more credibility.

The drink in question is the pumpkin spice martini. I really struggled with this one the first time around as I have not run across too many pumpkin flavored anythings that really pique my interest, and it just seems so fitting for the October/November moths. I think I've come up with the solution - heat it up. The mix of ingredients in this one can be enjoyed cold, but served warm the flavors of the pumpkin and whiskey/rum just start to make more sense. Try this alternative recipe below and I think you'll agree (It also needs a better name, suggestions welcome).

Hot Pumpkin



Ingredients:

2 oz bourbon or spiced rum

1 oz pumpkin schnapps

.5 oz cointreau or triple sec

.5 oz vanilla schnapps

3 oz ginger ale

whipped cream, cinnamon, nutmug to garnish

Instructions:

Mix liquor ingredients in a mug (the glass in the picture is just for show) and heat till its just below boiling. Add   ginger ale to fill, then heat in a microwave for a few seconds to make sure it doesn't cool too much. Garnish the top with whipped cream and sprinkle fresh cinnamon and nutmeg over the cream. Serve while still warm (obviously).

- Foggy

Plum and Green Tea Martini

My delightful girlfriend just stumbled upon this recipe, which turned out to be not only delicious, but also one of the only drinks I've seen to feature Carambola (starfruit) other than The Lady Liberty designed by your's truly. This one requires a bit of effort mainly from gathering ingredients, but the end result is pretty impressive.

Plum and Green Tea Martini