Sidecars with Dried Cherries

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This cocktail by Ina Garten was as good as I remembered and the dried cherries is a great garnish and addition to the flavor. I have had a sidecar cocktail in probably over 30 years but remember sipping them back in our California days in the early 80's! I skipped the sugar the rim stage as I don't care for the extra sugar.


Juice of 1 lemon for sugaring the glasses

1/4 cup sugar 

1/4 cup dried cherries 

6 ounces good Cognac (VS not VSOP), divided 

3 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons) 

3 ounces Grand Marnier liqueur 

Ice
  1. To sugar the glass rims, 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.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the dried cherries with 2 ounces of the Cognac and microwave on high for 60 seconds. Set aside.
  3. 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.

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