Ingredients:
Metaxa or a good quality brandy
Fresh blood orange juice
Fresh lemon juice
Housemade grenadine
Bitters
Ice
Tools:
Shaker
Strainer
Juicer
Steps:
Use your juicer to extract 3/4 oz blood orange juice and 3/4 oz lemon juice.
Add several ice cubes to a shaker, then add 2 oz brandy, the blood orange juice and lemon juice, 1/2 oz grenadine and a dash of bitters – I recommend Peychaud’s, but if you can’t find it, use Angostura.
Shake vigorously.
Strain into a chilled martini-shaped glass
This cocktail draws upon the all-time classic sidecar and adds the vibrant colors and flavors of blood orange juice and grenadine (housemade from pomegranate juice). Around here, we only see blood oranges from November to early spring, and their juice is terrific in this zingy winter cocktail. Bottled blood orange juice may also work, although I have not yet tried it. Or you can substitute with tangerines or satsumas.
True grenadine adds color and sweetness as well as a fairly intense pomegranate flavor. If the flavor is too tart, you can add a little simple syrup.
Variation:
Strain into a rocks glass, top with a few splashes of club soda and you have a delightful punch!
It is always a good idea to practice the cardinal virtue of moderation when consuming alcohol.
