East Hampton - Down along the railroad tracks and off the East Hampton beaten path is The Lodge Bar & Grill. Although that might sound like the opening lyrics to a great blues tune by the likes of Muddy Waters, The Lodge at 31 Race Lane is an East End favorite with a great happy hour, live piano bar on Thursdays and Sundays and one of best Sunday brunch buffets around with unlimited Mimosas and Bloody Marys.

The Lodge is also one of the rare Hamptons establishments carrying the recently released Hennessy Black cognac, the venerated French Cognac house's first new product rollout since 1961. Using grapes selected from four of the Cognac region's premiere growing areas, Hennessy Black is a blend of 35 to 45 pale and gold colored eaux-de-vie selected for their floral characteristics and aged up to eight years in French Limousin oak barrels previously used by Hennessy for at least five years.

Although delicious on it own, The Lodge has created a magnificent Sidecar cocktail with this French beauty as an American beauty, bartender Allison Burke, took us through the surprisingly easy recipe.

The Lodge's famous Hennessy Black Sidecar cocktail.

"We are making The Lodge's famous Sidecar by pouring equal parts of Hennessy Black Cognac, Grand Marnier and lime juice into an ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorous until chilled and pour into a sugar rimmed martini glass. Then garnish it with a slice of lime. Voila!"

Vive la France! Vive la Sidecar! I can hardly wait to try a Hennessy Black International Stinger.

Ingredients

 • 3 oz. Hennessy Black Cognac
 • 3 oz. Grand Marnier
 • 3 oz. Rose's Lime Juice
 • Granulated sugar to rim the glass
 • A round slice of fresh lime garnish