Hey, hey!

This week we are sipping on some French Brandy, also known as Cognac. Yes, we have our scented candles, Courvoisier and we are ready to answer your love queries.... I mean, we are ready to share this recipe for the traditional Sidecar. (Brownie points if you know who Leon Phelps is.) 

As always, if you make any of our drinks, take a picture and share them with us online! Instagram ---> @ staynfocusimages 
This recipe makes 2 drinks!  Let's get started!

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Here's what you need:

For Garnish
3-4  Tablespoons of Lemon Juice (adjust as needed)
4 Tablespoons of Sugar (adjust as needed)
2 Lemon Slices
 

For Drink
4 oz. Cognac
1.5  oz. Cointreau 
1.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
Ice
2 Martini Glasses

You'll also need a  Shaker Cup, Hawthorn Strainer, Bar Spoon.
 

Let's Start the Garnish:

1. Cut 2 thin slices from a lemon.
2. To create each curly peel garnish, cut through one side of the peel.
3. Then, cut out the pulp so you have a long strip of peel. 
4. Twist into the corkscrew shape and set aside. (We wrapped ours around a toothpick and placed into a paper towel until we were ready).
5. Next, to prep the martini glasses, grab some lemon juice and sugar.
6. There are several ways to do this, but one of the quickest is to get two small plates and place the lemon juice and sugar each on their own plate.
7. Dip the glass (upside down) in the lemon juice. Alternatively, you can paint the lemon juice on the rim with a cotton swab or napkin, or you can run a lemon wedge around the rim.
8. While keeping glass upside down, now dip the glass into the sugar.
9. Remove gently and flip upright. Set aside.
10. Repeat with 2nd glass. 

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Let's Make the Drink:

1. In a shaker cup add Cognac (4 oz), Cointreau (1.5 oz) and Lemon Juice (1.5 oz).
2. Add ice
3. Stir gently
4. Strain evenly between both martini glasses
5. Add your curly lemon peels
6. Enjoy!

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"It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend, one’s present or future thirst, the excellence of the cognac, or any other reason."
-W.C. Fields