A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend and I went into downtown Portland for dinner and drinks. We had two of the most amazing cocktails we’d ever had: a Pear Sidecar and a Gin Sidecar. While we didn’t have the exact recipes and proportions the restaurant used, we decided we had to try to replicate these on our own. They were that good.
After a little experimenting on Saturday night, we ended up with two cocktails we sipped on the rest of the evening. Here are the recipes we created.
J&J Pear Sidecar
1.5 oz pear brandy (we used Portland, OR, Clear Creek Distillery’s Williams Pear Brandy)
1 oz triple sec
.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 orange slice for garnish
Sugar
Rim the glass with a lemon slice and then dip into sugar to make a sugared rim. Combine brandy, triple sec, and lemon juice in a strainer with ice. Shake. Strain into glass. Add orange slice for garnish.
Sip and enjoy.
J&J Gin Sidecar
1.5 oz gin (we used Vermont Caledonia Spirits & Winery Barr Hill Gin)
1 oz triple sec
.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 orange slice for garnish
Sugar
Rim the glass with a lemon slice and then dip into sugar to make a sugared rim. Combine gin, triple sec, and lemon juice in a strainer with ice. Shake. Strain into glass. Add orange slice for garnish.
Sip and Enjoy.
If you like sidecars, these are a must-try cocktail. Let me know how you liked them!
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oh my, those sound DELICIOUS! I had a ginger sidecar at the W hotel in Hoboken, NJ, that I have never forgotte. YUM! The pear one may just make my weekend list 😉