Blood Orange Sidecar Cocktail
This blood orange side car cocktail recipe was originally published in 2008! It’s an oldie but goodie.
Blood Orange Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
Our Southern Californian climate doesn’t provide us with fall explosions of color, white Christmases, or the magical moments of crocus poking their way through the last of winter’s snow, however we do have our own special experiences of nature. One of the most delicious delights of our winters is the ripening of the citrus. Our tangerines started becoming ripe nearly a month ago, but the longer we leave them still attached to their momma, the sweeter they’ll become.
The next in line for harvest, and that which will provide tonight’s cocktail, is the blood orange. Of all our citrus, the blood orange tree is by far the most flora when fruiting. As the sun warms the fruit and the tree, the sweet aroma fills the surrounding air. It almost makes you want to be reincarnated as a hummingbird so your life can always be filled with such a sweet fragrance. Although personally, the hyperactivity of a hummer just isn’t in my nature.
Now that our blood oranges are ripe , we are reminded of a cocktail we created last year. It is a blood orange version of the classic Sidecar, which we have dubbed our Midnight Ride. To the best of our knowledge this blood orange ocktail name hasn’t been claimed, and it seemed appropriately sexy while still giving heritage to the Sidecar. Also, quite apropos, we created the cocktail around the midnight hour, as well as wrote this post well beyond midnight. We tend to be a little crazy like that, but at least we are crazy together.
-Todd and Diane
Check out our Cocktail Recipes Here and our Complete Whiskey Guide.
Click Here for more More Blood Orange Recipes
Here’s a fun blended kiwi margarita recipe.
Blood Orange Sidecar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 ounces (60-90ml) fresh Blood Orange Juice
- 1 1/2 ounces (45ml) Cognac or Brandy
- 1/2 ounce (15ml) Grand Marnier , or preferred orange liquer
- Dash of Orange Bitters *see Note 1
- 1/2 ounce (15ml) Simple Syrup (optional) , or to taste - depends on the sweetness of your blood orange juice
- blood orange wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Combine blood orange juice, cognac, grand marnier, and bitters in an ice filled cocktail shaker.
- Shake it like an earthquake for 15 seconds. Taste for flavor and add simple syrup if desired. Shake again for a few seconds if simple syrup is added.
- Strain into your cocktail glass (can be served over ice or sans ice depending on your preference). Garnish if desired.
Notes
Note 2: A basic simple syrup is a 1:1 ratio of sugar dissolved in water. example- One cup sugar dissolved in one cup of water. We usually make larger batches and keep on hand in the refrigerator.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and the kind words you left in my comments. It’s always great to meet new people in the food bloggy world.
I love your site! Lots of fun and wonderful photos 🙂
Geesh- you are so killing me with that garden of yours. If I show up on your front doorstep will you adopt me and take me in? Pretty please?? I make a mean Blood Orange margarita! 😉
Can I just state the obvious and say that I love coming here to look at your gorgeous photos. I could really decorate my house with these. And I was laughing when I saw “shit” too~ I figured you guys are way too refined for my sort of trucker language. HA!
Charcuterista- We love making people smile on our blog, because at work we always seem to make people frown!
Nikki- My mom is the same way too, and maybe that’s where we get it from. This woman is craaaaazy! I’ll be writing about her soon.
WC- You fearless eater you! You’re on our invite list for the next event!
Cakelaw – Yes! Two points for me and one for him! 🙂
Simply – Ok, you’re riding the fence here! One point for me and one more for him. 🙂
Evil- Oops! Sorry about that! I grew in a household of 6 kids ( along with many friends), so there were always tons of kids in the house. My parents stopped counting after 3. Maybe I’m doing the same. You’re kids are cuuute, and wouldn’t mind trading for one of your kids for a day. Do they pull weeds and dice shallots?
LisaRene – Words to live by: “NEVER SEND AN EMAIL WHILE DRUNK”! Thanks!
Pixie- Thanks for the link and we look forward to reading it!
Kitt- .~.~getting to like you, getting to hope you like me.~.~
I love singing along, thanks for letting me finish!
Srivalli – Welcome ! Our tree is a great investment because for the $20 we spent six years ago, we’ve gained so much for fruit in return.
Anya – Welcome to buddy! We like hanging out at your place too.
Happy Cook – Yeah, there are few dull moments between us. We’re always antagonizing one another-we do this to keep ourselves young!
FlaN – Have you made any cocktails using plantains yet? Might be quite tasty!
Tempered- You’re welcome any time, especially if you can make a bloody orange margarita. You’d definitely have to spend the night though, because all the cocktails won’t allow you drive back!
You guys seemes to be really made for each other as both of you like opposite things. No dull moments then 🙂
i just loved this post, guys!! how cute. you give a single gal like myself hope in this world in trying to find love! especially after a convo with a good guy friend that says marriage is for the birds (he’s divorced).
blood oranges–the best i’ve had were in Italy. they were so darn good!
your’s look just as amazing!
thanks for tagging me and loving my plantains! 🙂
It’s my first time that I’ve stopped by your blog. And what a godsend! Fabulous layout, beautiful writing, stunning pictures…I’m definitely in love (at first sight) with your blog, buddies!!!
Fab, fab, fab!!! 🙂
very interesting to read…looks like fun to have an orange tree close by..those pictures are lovely!
./~ ./~ Getting to know you, getting to know all about you … ./~ ./~
Beautifully illustrated, and make mine a double, please!
LOL I can’t believe you two wrote the word ‘shit’. I don’t know why but I found that hysterical….I would be totally wasted after just one of your drinks.
You two are truly the sweetest. Awww, such great facts and photos to go with it!
I’ve recently listed five facts about myself. You can check it out here:
http://yousaytomatoisaytomato.blogspot.com/2008/01/post-100-and-meme-of-five-facts.html
and I’ve recently been tagged for another meme…quite a long and interesting one (so you can get loads more information about me once I post entry!) In other words, can I skip listing another 5 facts about myself?
Hey thanks for tagging me! Now I have to sound interesting… Were you secretly wanting one of my kids? ’cause I have 4, I wish I had three but sadly that’s not the case. I’ll trade you some fruit and spices for one! They all like to eat, fairly well trained, smart, one likes politics a little too much, well read. You sure you don’t want one?
Awww, you two should win an award for the “cutest couple blog”, truly!
I had my very first Sidecar this past Saturday night. Brandy / Cognac (need to learn the difference) is a spirit I have just begun to explore. So far I’m liking it! Typically I have only purchased brandy to marinate dried fruit in! I’ll give your Sidecar a spin this weekend as the one I had on Saturday night was at a bar so of course it was partially comprised of a high fructose corn syrup sweet/sour yuckiness. I do like my cocktail strong and pure!
Warning: Never send an e-mail while drunk.
Me, I’m a sugar AND salt girl. Your pix of oranges are making my mouth water! Congrats on the cookbook! I’ll buy a copy for sure!
LOL! I really enjoyed reading these 5 facts about you guys. On personal preferences, I’m a sugar girl, but I’ll take the fork and the woolly booties. A fun post.
I’ve seen the pics of your food spread and far from being scared, I’d be in heaven! 😀
Your blood orange cocktail looks so pretty! But I go ga-ga over any blood orange pictures.
You know how to twist a girl’s arm, don’t you! Okay. I have some ideas and will be working on the tags. Meanwhile, I enjoyed reading and seeing both of your answers. I like the bit about scaring people with the amount of food you feed them 🙂 Sounds like my mom!
The twist on the sidecar sounds great. The classic is one of my favorite cocktails, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for blood oranges. Plus your answers made me smile!