Lady Ligeia
The Lady Ligeia cocktail is inspired by two things I love and admire. The recipe is a spin on a beloved classic cocktail, the Sidecar. The origins of this popular 1920’s cocktail are unknown. All you really need to know is that it’s one of those perfectly balanced drinks that has stood the test of time for a reason. Growing in popularity in the 1920’s, it faded into the background in the confused, neon-tinged, grenadine-fueled 1990’s (not enough umbrellas I guess), only to resurface with a vengeance in the modern cocktail era.
The name comes from one of my favourite short stories, Ligeia by Edgar Allen Poe. Due to the supernatural (though more likely opium induced) theme of the poem, the name Legeia is sometimes associated with witchcraft, which makes it perfect for a cocktail starring Strega, an Italian herbal liquor, named for the Italian word for witch. To learn more about Strega, here’s an informative blog post by TravelFoodCool: Which Witch is Which?
What you’ll need:
2oz brandy
1/2oz Strega
1/4oz simple syrup
3/4oz lime juice
How to make it:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a pre-chilled coup glass. Garnish with lime peel.
Garnish:
For steps on making the same garnish I use in the video, read this helpful guide from Moody Mixologist: Guide to Citrus Peel Cocktail Garnishes.
Description:
The colour is deep amber. The flavour is at first sweet, followed by tart citrus with hints of black licorice and malty caramel, ending with a slight bitterness.
Glassware:
This beautiful little coup glass can be found at my favourite local shop, Cocktail Emporium.
