Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

sour sweet

History

The Sidecar emerged around the end of World War I and first appeared in print in 1922. Competing claims place its creation at Buck’s Club in London (Pat MacGarry), Harry’s New York Bar in Paris (Harry MacElhone), or the Ritz Paris. The most popular story says it was named after the motorcycle sidecar in which a regular customer arrived. A tart mix of cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon, it is a brandy sour and a close cousin to the Margarita. The sugar rim is optional at home — skip it if you already find the triple sec sweet. VS cognac from the pantry is fine; save VSOP for sipping. If cognac, lemon, and an orange liqueur are on the shelf, mix this before you buy tequila for a Margarita.

Ingredients

cognac 2 oz

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lemon 1 oz juice

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triple sec 1 oz

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Missing a bottle? Stock your pantry to see what else you can mix.

How to make

Chill a coupe.
If you want a sugar rim, moisten only the outside edge with lemon and dip it in superfine sugar so none falls into the drink.
Add 2 oz cognac, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1 oz triple sec (Cointreau if that is the orange liqueur in the pantry) to a shaker with ice.
Shake hard until the shaker frosts — cognac needs a longer shake than gin to open up.
Double-strain into the prepared coupe so ice shards do not melt the sugar rim.
Garnish with an orange twist, or lemon if you want it sharper.

Glassware

Coupe

A wide bowl shows aroma and holds stirred or shaken drinks without stemware tipping over as easily as a V-shaped martini glass.

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Sidecar FAQ

Does a Sidecar have a sugar rim?

Optional. A Sidecar is 2 oz cognac, 1 oz lemon juice, and 1 oz triple sec, shaken and served up. Sugar the outside of the coupe if you want it; skip the rim if the orange liqueur is already sweet enough.

What ingredients are in a Sidecar?

A Sidecar is made with cognac, lemon, and triple sec. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a Sidecar?

Chill a coupe. If you want a sugar rim, moisten only the outside edge with lemon and dip it in superfine sugar so none falls into the drink. Add 2 oz cognac, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1 oz triple sec (Cointreau if that is the orange liqueur in the pantry) to a shaker with ice. Shake hard until the shaker frosts — cognac needs a longer shake than gin to open up. Double-strain into the prepared coupe so ice shards do not melt the sugar rim. Garnish with an orange twist, or lemon if you want it sharper.

What glass do you serve a Sidecar in?

Serve a Sidecar in a Coupe. A wide bowl shows aroma and holds stirred or shaken drinks without stemware tipping over as easily as a V-shaped martini glass.