RECIPE | Bootlegger’s Car
„Don't expect no biscuits coming out around here!“
Well, hot dang! Grab your mason jars, folks, 'cause we're about to take a wild ride through history, mixin' up some hooch and tellin' tales that'll curl your whiskers!
The Birth of the Sidecar and Our Moonshinin' Heritage
Now, listen here, y'all. Once upon a time, 'round about the 1920s, some fancy pants over in Paris (that's in France, for those who ain't never left the holler) went and invented a drink called the Sidecar. Legend has it, this fella used to roll up to his favorite watering hole in a motorcycle sidecar, cool as a cucumber in January. The barkeep, bless his heart, whipped up a concoction of cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice, naming it after his regular's preferred mode of transport.
But let me tell you somethin' - while them Frenchies were sippin' their Sidecars, we had our own excitement brewin' right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. You see, them city slickers up in Washington got it in their heads to ban liquor. Called it Prohibition, but we called it a darn nuisance!
That's when our granddaddies and great-granddaddies became what you might call "entrepreneurs." Yessir, they started cookin' up moonshine faster than you can say "bless your heart." And let me tell you, transportin' that liquid gold was more excitin' than a coon dog on a hot trail!
Them bootleggers, they was craftier than a fox in a hen house. They'd soup up their cars, loading 'em down with jars of shine, and tear through the backroads and hollers. The revenuers never stood a chance! It was like watching a real-life chase scene, only with more mud and cussing.
Now, here at BMMC79, we ain't advocating breaking no laws, you understand. But we sure do appreciate the spirit (pun intended, y'all) of them bootleggers. That's why we cooked up our own version of the Sidecar, using our Queen's Share Moonshine instead of that fancy French brandy.
We call it the "Moonshine Sidecar," and it's got more kick than a mule with a burr under its saddle. Here's how you make it:
Bootlegger’s Car Recipe:
What you'll need:
- A generous glug of our Queen's Share Moonshine (that's about 2 oz for you city folks)
- A splash of that fancy orange liqueur (1 oz of Cointreau or Triple Sec)
- A squeeze of fresh lemon juice (about 3/4 oz)
- A little drizzle of maple syrup (1/4 oz) if you've got a sweet tooth
- Ice cubes, more than you'd put in your sweet tea
- Sugar for the rim, if you're feeling fancy
- A twist of lemon peel, 'cause we ain't savages
How to put it all together:
1. If you're gonna sugar the rim, do it now. Just wet the edge of your glass and dip it in sugar like you're coating a chicken for fryin'.
2. Toss all your liquids in a shaker with more ice than a January storm.
3. Shake it up like you're trying to wake your old hound dog - about 10-15 seconds ought to do it.
4. Strain it into your fancy glass. If you don't have a strainer, your fingers'll do just fine (just wash 'em first, ya hear?).
5. Take that lemon peel and give it a twist over the drink. Them fancy bartenders call it "expressing the oils," but we just call it adding some zing.
There you have it, folks! A Moonshine Sidecar that'll make you forget all about them French originals. It's smoother than a fresh jar of peanut butter, but don't let that fool you - it's got a kick that'll put hair on your chest (ladies, you've been warned).
Sip it slow, savor it, and remember - this ain't your great-granddaddy's bathtub gin, but it's got just as much history in every drop!
So there you have it, folks. A little bit of French fanciness, a whole lot of Southern ingenuity, and a cocktail that'll make you wanna slap your grandma (but don't you dare!).
Next time you mix up one of these Moonshine Sidecars, take a moment to appreciate the history in your glass. From Parisian motorcycles to backwoods car chases, this drink's got more stories than a long-tailed cat's got lives.