For most people the Vernal Equinox signals the gradual transition from the grey and chilly days of winter, to the bright and warm days of summer. For the folks at Napa Valley Distillery, spring is a time to craft vintage porch-sipper cocktails that waken your taste buds from their winter hibernation, and to inspire thoughts of backyard gatherings with friends, seasonal dishes, and finely crafted libations. First up on their menu? The Sidecar.

The Sidecar Cocktail was created in 1920 at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris for an American Army Captain who fancied being chauffeured around in his beloved motorcycle sidecar. Proprietor Arthur Hartunian handcrafts each small batch using NVD’s own spirits and all natural ingredients. The mixture is then oak infused before bottling. The end result is a cocktail with extraordinary taste and character that no amount of shaking or stirring can produce; it is bright and fresh, yet refined and thoughtful. A very special cocktail truly reminiscent of an era long gone by. Cheers to spring!