The brandy works well, but cognac is divine
More from my wife, bartender extraordinaire.
Think what you will, but the other week I was left to my own devices and decided a stiff drink was in order. There I was staring at an obscenely full liquor cabinet — bottles tend to proliferate when I’m not looking — thinking ‘I have nothing to drink.’ And then in the far back, I spied a shaker my husband had given me for my birthday years back. It’s vintage and the lid sort of sticks. It’s one of those glass numbers with old fashioned drink recipes printed on it. One in particular caught my eye, the sidecar. Doesn’t it just sound like the cat’s pajamas? A few minutes later Greg was walking in the door as I was pouring our drinks, feeling quite pleased with myself. The traditional drink calls for lemon juice, but surely a bit of limoncello would be an improvement. As we quaffed and chatted, he asked where I’d found brandy. “In the decanter,” I replied.
He paused for a second and said, “That’s a 12-year blended Scotch.” I thought briefly about how only a novice would confuse whiskey for brandy and asked: “So how do you like your whiskey sour?”
The Italian Sidecar
- 1/3 brandy or cognac
- 1/3 Cointreau (triple sec is just fine)
- 1/6 limoncello
- 1/6 lemon juice
- orange wedge or maraschino cherry for garnish
Combine ingredients in glass shaker, give it a shake and pour in the glass of your choice.
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide 
Decadent. Enjoy!
Looks like an awesome drink!!
Mmm that looks/sounds delicious. Drinks are in order for tomorrow!
Wow, I will have to try this! I have always loved a good sidecar but not seen this variation before. Thanks!
Haven’t had a sidecar before – it sounds great – not sure I could handle too many though.
🙂 Mandy
Sounds delicious! Could be a knock your socks off type of drink!
I’ve never tried a sidecar before, in fact, I haven’t tried that many cocktails… My boyfriend would buy and open a bottle of wine but that’s it. You’re lucky to have a wife with bartender skills 🙂
I don’t know why, but I love the look of all those ice cubes floating in your glass!
Substituting limoncello for lemon juice? I totally approve.
Sounds so glamorous. I picture you now floating around in a vintage silk gown, circa 1930´s and Greg in a dinner jacket!!! Perhaps you should introduce regular “cocktail evenings”, or is that just asking for trouble?!
Greg did indeed have his smoking jacket on. And I was wearing a dress similar to the green one she had in Atonement, but with a bit of a slit in the front to show off the gams, ha. For the sake of our blog readers we’re trying to do a drink post a week. It’s torture, but a public service.
Haha I would have done the same thing! I’m such a novice when it comes to liquor. It’s shameful. But the drink sounds delicious!
Looks so good!
I love the story! And it sounds like the drink turned out well. Maybe I’ll whip this one up for hubby one of these nights when he gets home from work. I’ll have to find him a good smoking jacket though. 😉
I think it’s funny our spouses did a guest post on the same day. I recommend velvet.:)
LOL! Have to get the old school pipe and slippers to go along with it.
What a nice read and wow! what a drink! I love mixed cocktails but I end up always opening up a bottle of wine! The icey cold cocktail seems like the way to go for these warmer months ahead!
Cat’s Pajamas, Indeed! Anything with a maraschino cherry works for me.
This looks so GOOD! And I love the skewer the cherry is on! Where did you get them?
A friend got those for my wife years ago at a place in California called Beverages and More, BevMo for short. It’s like a big-box spirits shop.
Love this post, Katherine! Especially the addition of limoncello–a brilliant substitution for lemon juice. I’m sure Greg loved coming home to a delicious, fancy cocktail. 🙂
Hi Caroline, thank you. I have a feeling you’ll like tomorrow’s post too! No reason….:)
Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Just found this blog from your comment on Tart To Heart’s post. I saw the name Rufus and had to have a look as my son is called Rufus and there aren’t many Rufi (???) around.
Anyway, love the blog so have signed up. I’m not a huge drinker but am beginning to take more of an interest in ales.
Louise.
She has such a great blog (http://carlysulli.wordpress.com)! Glad you found the site. The name may have spirits in it, but I usually only post a drink a week.
Wow, what a drink! Well, brandy, scotch…as long as it tasted good and gave you a buzz, does it matter?
Katherine’s post are so much fun and I have another cocktail drink to add to my party drinks for guest.
Awww, thanks Kay. I think you’re the cat’s pajamas!
Sidecar. Limoncello. Now this is a marriage made in heaven.
Always looking for new ways to use the limoncello in our cabinet. I’m no bartender extraordinare, but I could totally make this!
This sounds like the perfect summer drink! I’m going to have to try it! Nice picture too.
I LOVE sidecars! Glad to see someone else out there does as well, because it seems often times bartenders look at me confused when I order one. I’ll have to try the addition of limoncello next time.
Now this seems like a nice refreshing and relaxing way to enjoy my new pergola. 🙂
Have’nt had a sidecar like this before and I AM italian otherwise !!!
Great Idea Rufus!
Thank You
Limoncello sidecar didn’t have the same ring. My wife laughs when we’re overseas and there are Cafe Americanos on the menu. Americans don’t have those!
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How did you like that whiskey sour? ha ha. That is totally something I would have done as well! Great photo too!
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I think I could die happy only drinking these from now on!