Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe


A Classic Brandy Daisy

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
Sidecar Cocktail

The Sidecar is a classic cocktail that has been around for over 100 years.

It is tart, dry and refreshing, with cognac as its base spirit. This drink also features orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice, plus a sugared rim.

If you’re looking to add another standard classic to your arsenal, the Sidecar cocktail recipe is one you have to be able to pull out. It is a fairly straightforward member of the daisy family. It is also the perfect excuse to pick up a bottle or two or Cognac and get to know this amazing drink. Cheers!

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe History

The Sidecar is an interesting drink. It started showing up around the end of World War I. I takes its name from the motorcycle sidecar. The Ritz Hotel in Paris claims to be the place where the drink was created. It is a delicious blend of Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice.

It show up in Harry MacElhone’s 1923 and 1930 editions of ABCs of Mixing Drinks. Harry MacElhone gives the credit for the recipe to Pat McGarry of the Buck’s Club in London. It’s all a little vague and unclear, but to be fair it is a fairly straightforward variation on a Daisy so it might be one of those drinks that was just kind of around.

What is a Sidecar Cocktail?

  • Style of Cocktail – Daisy 
  • Glass – coupe
  • Base spirit – brandy
  • Modifier – Cointreau
  • Sour – Lemon juice
  • Sweet – Rich Demerara Syrup

This is a classic example of a daisy cocktail. It is a sour modified by

What does a Sidecar Cocktail Taste Like?

  • Strong 
  • Tart

Getting the balance right in this drink is essential. It easily veers in the too strong or too tart direction. Adding a little demerara syrup gives the cocktail the rich velvety mouthfeel it need to marry the lemon juice and the brandy.

This is a relatively spare drink. High quality ingredients work best here. Don’t worry about a good Cognac getting lost in the mix. This drink will bring out its best.

Many Sidecar recipes put the sugar on the rim of the glass. For historical purists it may be important to adhere to the old recipes. This drink is much more balanced when you put the sugar in the mix.

A simple orange twist does wonders to complete this drink.

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe Breakdown

The Sidecar is a from the Daisy family of cocktails. That means it is a sour cocktail where the base spirit is split with a liqueur. In other words, the two parts spirit in the standard 2:1:1 sour cocktail recipe get divided between a base spirit and a liqueur in this case it is Cointreau.

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe Ingredients

Cognac

Cognac is a type of brandy that is made from grapes that are grown in the Cognac region of France. It is considered to be a high-quality spirit, and is often served as an after-dinner drink. Some people also use cognac in cocktails.

Cointreau

Cointreau is a triple sec orange liqueur that is produced in France. It is made from a blend of sweet and bitter orange peels. It is said to have been invented in the mid 1800s by Edouard Cointreau. He originally intended for it to be used in cooking but it soon became popular as a drink.

Fresh Lemon Juice

The Sweet and Sour

Fresh Lemon Juice

Fresh lemon juice is the

Demerara Syrup

Demerara syrup is a thick, amber-colored syrup made from sugarcane juice. It is named for the Demerara River in Guyana, where it was first produced. Demerara syrup is used to sweeten coffee, tea, cocktails, and other beverages. It can also be used as a glaze or sauce for desserts.

Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

  • 1 ½ oz Cognac
  • ¾ oz Cointreau
  • 1/4 oz rich demerara syrup
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 1 orange twist for garnish
  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add Cognac, Cointreau, syrup, and lemon juice.
  3. Shake vigorously for 10 – 15 seconds.
  4. Strain into the prepared coupe glass.
  5. Twist orange zest over the drink and set on rim to garnish.

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