Sidecar

Rim a coupe glass with fine bar sugar,. Shake the cognac, liqueur and lemon juice with ice until well-chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange twist.

If you fancy a cognac based cocktail, you cannot do much better than a Sidecar. It can be pretty dry so rimming the glass with a little sugar can take the edge off. The quantities given here, although maintaining the classic 2:1:1 ratio, are more than sufficient for the glass, allowing the excess to be served in a shot glass on the side, in other words, a Sidecar.

For a wonderful variation try Calvados, apple brandy from a protected region of Normandy, in lieu of the cognac. Dress with a fine slither of apple peel. If you can get hold of some, Somerset Royal 5 year old Cider Brandy (they are not allowed to call it Calvados) is fabulous and makes for a fine drink.