Sidecar

What is a Sidecar Cocktail?

The Sidecar is a bright, citrus-forward cocktail made with cognac, triple sec and lemon juice and dates back more than a century.

What Does a Sidecar Cocktail Taste Like?

Some people have said a Sidecar is like a Margarita made with cognac instead of tequila and lemon juice instead of lime. But that’s overly simplifying things and underestimating just how much character the cognac adds. 

The Sidecar is a well-balanced mix of sweet and sour, where the cognac offers a rich, smooth, and subtly warming touch, while the lemon juice brings a tangy, citrusy brightness, and the triple sec adds a sweet, fruity accent. It’s a perfect drink.

The History of the Sidecar Cocktail

As with so many classic cocktails, the history of the Sidecar is shrouded in mystery. A book printed in the late 1940s tells the popular story of the drink being invented in a bar in Paris during World War I, named after the motorcycle sidecar where an American captain was driven to and from the bar where the drink was allegedly invented by the bartender based on the captain’s preference for brandy.

However, an earlier book from the 1920s suggests a London bartender created it. The first printed recipe for the Sidecar is thought to date back to 1922.

Tips for Making the Perfect Sidecar Cocktail

• Chill your glass
  A chilled glass is always a good idea, especially when drinking or serving slow sipping cocktails like the Sidecar. It gives your whole drink experience another layer or dimension.
• Sugarcoat your glass
  Though it’s not essential to the drink, you can add a touch of elegance by rimming your coupe glass with sugar. Just moisten the rim with the juiced lemon half, then dip it into sugar.

  The sugar-coated rim works wonderfully with the citrus flavors from the lemon juice and triple sec.

• Double strain your Sidecar
  For that little extra detail, we recommend double straining your drink. It’ll prevent any ice chards getting into your glass, resulting in an even smoother drink.

  To do this, place your Hawthorne strainer over the top of the larger tin of your Boston shaker and then pour the cocktail through a fine mesh strainer into glass. Learn how to double strain your cocktail.

Variations of a Sidecar Cocktail

• Spiced Sidecar
  This spiced version of a classic Sidecar halves the cognac from the original to accommodate an equal measure of spiced rum.
  
  Rich and warming, the spiced rum introduces an additional layer of complexity to an already intricate drink. 

  Discover the recipe for a Spiced Sidecar.

• Havana Sidecar
  Not so much a variation of a Sidecar but a complete turnaround. The Havana Sidecar uses Havana rum instead of cognac and lime juice instead of lemon juice giving this drink a Cuban feel and drinking very much like a Daiquiri.

  Here’s how to make a Havana Sidecar.

Serving and Garnish Ideas for a Sidecar Cocktail

We recommend serving the Sidecar cocktail in a chilled coupe glass and garnishing the drink with a lemon twist placed directly in the glass. That’s tradition and perfection in one.