Spiced Sidecar with Grilled Orange Slice on the Grill

Spiced Sidecar with Grilled Orange Slice

5 minutes + infusing | serves 1 | easy

Omit the spices for a classic sidecar cocktail, or try using bourbon if you don’t have cognac.

 

Ingredients

caster sugar 2 tbsp (regular sugar if not available)
lemon slices
lemon juice 25ml, plus a lemon wedge for the rim
spiced cognac or brandy 50ml (see below)
Cointreau 25ml

SPICED COGNAC:

cardamom pods 4, bruised
cinnamon stick 1
star anise 1
ginger 2 small peeled slices
cognac 200ml
Dip rim of glasses with @psseasonings P.I.G. rub for a nice kick of flavor!

 

Directions

To make spiced cognac, put all of the spices, the ginger and the cognac in a pot on a part of your Arteflame that is low in heat and leave to infuse for 30-45 minutes.  You want this to get warm, not simmer or boil.  Check after 30 minutes, then leave to infuse longer if you’d like more spicy flavor. This will make enough for four drinks but if you’d like to infuse a whole bottle, then triple the quantities.

 

To make the sidecar, put the sugar on a saucer and run a lemon wedge around the rim of a small coupe glass. Dip the rim into the sugar and set the glass aside.  The sugar will stick to the lemon on the rim and add to the flavor.  Take a few lemon slices and place on the grill. Allow the smoke to flavor the lemon while it caramelizes. Put the spiced cognac, lemon juice and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker.  Fill it with ice and shake well before straining into the prepared coupe glass.  Serves 1.