An elegant Cognac cocktail with World War I roots, the sidecar recipe remains effortlessly modern in its appeal. Like the whiskey sour and classic margarita, the sidecar cocktail belongs to the sour branch of the mixed alcoholic drinks family. It’s a tangy-sweet concoction of Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice shaken to chilled perfection and served straight up with a sugared rim. Before, during or after a meal—there’s no wrong time to serve a sidecar.
Many classic cocktails have cloudy origins, and the sidecar is no exception. What we do know is that the recipe first cropped up as World War I was winding down and was named for the attachment commonly affixed to motorcycles of the day. The earliest version of the sidecar recipe is found in Harry’s ABC of Cocktails by Harry McElhone, owner of the legendary Harry’s New York Bar, Paris. McElhone credits Pat McGarry, a bartender at London’s Buck’s Club as the drink’s creator.
Sidecar Recipe Ingredients
- Cognac: Ask a bartender, and they’ll tell you the trick to a great tasting sidecar is high-quality ingredients. Pick up a decent Cognac: Look for VS (Very Special) or VSOP/Reserve (Very Superior Old Pale) on the label. Anything a grade up from VSOP should be saved for sipping rather than used for cocktails.
- Cointreau: Different sidecar cocktail recipes name different types of orange liqueur in the recipe. This one calls for Cointreau, but Grand Marnier and curaçao are excellent alternatives.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brings its zesty brightness to the sidecar recipe.
- Garnish: While the sugar rim is completely optional, it does a fantastic job of adding a little sweetness to each sip of your sidecar cocktail. Lancing the drink with a strip of orange peel elevates the glass as well.
Directions
Step 1: Rim the glass with sugar
Run an orange wedge around the rim of a coupe glass.
Pour superfine sugar onto a plate, then gently but firmly press the rim of the glass into the sugar.
Step 2: Shake, strain, garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in the Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice.
Secure the lid and shake well for 10 to 15 seconds until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.
Strain into the glass. Take a strip of orange peel and squeeze it over the glass to release the oils, then drop the peel into the glass.
Sidecar Variations
- Use Calvados: This French apple brandy will imbue your sidecar with a rich apple flavor—a favorite fall drink.
- Make an amaretto sidecar: Amaretto has a terrific nuttiness that pairs so well with Cointreau’s sweet orange flavor and the zesty brightness of the lemon juice.
- Try a white lady: Another classic cocktail in the sour family, the white lady swaps gin for the sidecar’s Cognac and adds a dash of simple syrup. Some folks add egg white, but this is strictly optional.
Can you make a sidecar ahead of time?
Spirit-forward cocktails like the sidecar are ideal for mixing in advance, whether you’re preparing big-batch cocktails for a get-together or a smaller serving to pour as you unwind from a long day. You can mix a sidecar cocktail two to three days ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Because of the fresh lemon juice, batched sidecars don’t enjoy the same long shelf life as a Negroni or Manhattan.
Sidecar Recipe Tips
What type of glass do you use for a sidecar?
The coupe is the cocktail glass of choice for sidecars, especially if you prefer a sugared rim. A small martini glass is an excellent runner-up.
What is the best Cognac for a sidecar?
Cognacs can get expensive, but there’s no need to break the bank the next time you’re shaking up a few sidecars. Look for VS or VSOP Cognacs from Hennessy, Courvoisier or Remy Martin.
What can you serve with a sidecar?
Thanks to its zesty lemon-orange notes, sidecars are delicious with most seafood dishes and poultry recipes. Serve a sidecar with appetizers like a cheese and charcuterie board, especially boards decked with prosciutto, goat cheese and manzanilla olives. The combo of sweet-sour-salty transcends a food pairing. Other favorites with this tangy tipple include salmon quiche, baked lemon chicken and skillet sea scallops. Most zippy lemon-laden dinner recipes make epic partners with the sidecar.
