New Years Eve Driveway Drinks! Champagne Sidecar
So I can totally play this off like I intended to post this on Sunday, December 31st instead of my usual Friday afternoon, but the fact is I just really didn't even know what day of the week it was, and by the time I put together that it was Friday....it was 10pm. So here we go-- Sunday celebration New Years Eve cocktail! The Champagne Sidecar (when just a glass of champagne isn't enough!)
A Sidecar is a cocktail that a mustachioed bartender in an old timey vest would gladly whip up for you-- it's cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Super simple-- mix ingredients in shaker, shake shake shake, pour into a sugar rimmed glass and call it a day! But because we are saying our FOND farewell's to the year 2017, it only makes sense to add champagne!
Just add lemon!
I also (by pure accident/luck) was out of lemons, but my neighbor had bought a ton of sweet, floral Meyer lemons and so in addition to adding champagne, the more tart lemon juice is swapped for the milder, sweeter Meyer lemon. What you get is a SUPER dangerously drinkable celebratory cocktail that adds a little extra pep to your New Years Eve festivities!
2017 definitely had it's highs and lows, and I know a lot of people are eager to wish her off, but it wasn't all bad. Babies were born and people got married and this very blog AND Driveway Drinks were born too! Take some time tonight, however you're celebrating, and give a little toast to all the things good and bad, and we'll all move onto 2018 in a buzzy champagne fog, laughing with friends and clinking glasses-- onward and upward!
Champagne Sidecar
Makes 1
Ingredients
1 oz Cognac
1 oz Grand Marnier or Cointreau
1 oz Meyer lemon juice
1 tsp simple syrup
Champagne or other sparkling wine
Method
In a shaker, combine cognac, Grand Marnier, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Shake until combined. Pour into fluted glass, and top with champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon or orange peel. Happy New Years!
