Blood Orange Sidecar Cocktail

Move over Mint Juleps! This refreshing cocktail could be the star at your next derby party or summer outdoor gathering. I’ve fallen in love with sidecar cocktails and have had them at several different places, each one capturing my attention in a different way. I tried one on a cruise ship once that had Hennessy, Patron and Lime juice with a smoked orange peel that was so refreshing and delicious. I also had one at Nobu restaurant in NY that was just stupid good. It had a Japanese whiskey, Grand Torres orange liquor and yuzu juice. It was probably the best one I have ever had. These two specific sidecar drinks inspired me to dive into my roots and put a Spanish twist to this common cocktail that is sure to knock your socks off.

When I was creating this recipe, I knew exactly where I would be purchasing the ingredients. Centrally located in Gainesville off of 43rd street, Dorn’s is my favorite local liquor store in town. They have a friendly knowledgeable staff, a good variety of products and the best cheese and pate selection. When I am serving a cheese or charcuterie board for guests, I always go into Dorn’s to get what I need. If you walk in the door of their store, you might miss this hidden gem as the cheese section is tucked away in the back corner. Its a one stop shop for a nice bottle of wine, aged meats and cheeses when you are planning to have friends come over or have a team building meeting late afternoon on a Friday. Why don’t more businesses do this? Do we really need an excuse to have good wine and cheese? Heck, I’ll enjoy this on a Wednesday evening after I put the kids to bed. No excuses necessary.

This week’s recipe is a Blood Orange Sidecar Cocktail. Click on the recipe title to view recipe. This drink contains blood oranges, bourbon and Licor 43.

Licor 43 is a citrus liquor from Spain that has an interesting yet complex flavor with notes of vanilla and spice. It may be hard to imagine what it tastes like, but once you do, you will feel the heat and passion of Spain tingling on the back of your throat. It’s smooth, sweet and spicy all at the same time. Spain has so much culture and delicious food to offer, but this liquor is on point. For those of you that are Fireball lovers, this liqour has a similar sweetness that masks the alcohol and tastes delicious.

One variety of blood oranges, the “Sanguinello”, was discovered in Spain in 1929.  Blood oranges taste very similar to a regular orange but with a hint of raspberry flavor. The purple flesh color is also different from the typical naval or Florida orange. This thirst quenching citrus would be perfect in mimosas, sangrias, in a marinade or even a dressing.  Its versatility and distinguished color and flavor make this fruit stand out in a crowd.

America’s native spirit, Bourbon, is sweet and smoky from the charred barrels they are aged in. I chose to use Four Roses single barrel in this recipe as it is one of my favorites but you can use which ever one you prefer. There is a bazillion different brands of bourbon out there to choose from and a lot of them would work well with this recipe. Another one that would work well is the Angel’s Envy Rye for its rum finish. This particular whiskey spends 18 months finishing in Caribbean rum casks creating a sweet and smooth drink, even at 100 proof.

The combination of all these ingredients make this sidecar a one of a kind. Rub the rim with an orange peel and a sprig of rosemary for a floral yet earthy nose at the beginning. Everyone secretly wants a refined yet sexy cocktail, but this spicy spaniard is on fire! Ole!