Strawberry Sidecar

The classic sidecar recipe made new with fresh strawberries. This cognac cocktail is perfect for Valentine’s Day or as a date night cocktail.

Two coupe cocktails in a row? I know, I know but I feel like Valentine’s Day is the perfect coupe cocktail holiday. Since we got a little funky with flavors with the other Valentine’s Day cocktail this week, I wanted to reel it back and do something a bit more classic. What’s more classic than a Sidecar cocktail? The name alone puts emphasis on a partner or partner in crime.

Then there is something about cognac that makes things feel just a bit more special. Luxurious even. At least in my house it does because it’s not a usual go-to spirit for us. It most often only gets brought out for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or for date night cocktails.

To jazz this cocktail up I flavored it with fresh muddled strawberries. I wanted to stick with something you most likely had around the house already. It gives this cocktail a touch of sweetness in this overall citrus forward (Cointreau and lemon juice) boozy sip. Who would you let sit in your sidecar?

Strawberry Sidecar Cocktail

Aren’t the strawberry roses the sweetest? You can learn how to make them here if you’d like to use them as a garnish, trust the extra effort will be worth it.

Like more classic cocktails, a Sidecar is easy to make but the more you do it the better it gets.

Into a shaker muddle together 3 fresh small-medium strawberries without their stems with 3/4 ounce of lemon juice. Once the berries release their juice and the skins begin to breakdown add in 3/4 ounce of Cointreau and 1 1/2 ounces of Cognac.

It’s Valentine’s Day splurge a little for the Remy Martin VSOP and Grand Marnier for the Cointreau.

Add ice to the shaker and shake for 15 shakes. You’ll feel the shaker icing over.

Rim a chilled coupe class with fine sugar. I personally think garnishing with a fresh strawberry brings enough sweetness but if you want a more classic look, rim it.

Fine strain the cocktail into the chilled couple glass. Serve or garnish with a strawberry rose.

It’s elegant, boozy, and overall a great way to break the ice on date night or Valentine’s Day.

If I was drinking this weekend, this would be the one I’d want. It’s just something special that usually doesn’t hit the cocktail menu too often. Plus the strawberry roses are just the right extra touch.

If you need more Valentine’s Day cocktail recipes for your cocktail menu this weekend. Check out these 15 Pink Valentine’s Day Cocktail I put together last week.

Now I’m off to get ready to stay in for Valentine’s Day. You won’t catch me out but you will find me on a cake hunt Sunday for my birthday. Don’t worry a birthday cocktail is coming Monday! Any guesses of what it could be this year?

Happy Valentine’s Day!