The “Beloved” 102-Year-Old Cocktail I’m Sipping for the Rest of the Year

If you are looking for a go-to cocktail that’s easy to make and delicious to drink year-round, it’s time to give the sidecar a try at your next happy hour. Sidecars are a classic cocktail in the sour family, a class of cocktails made with a spirit, sweetener, and sour ingredient (the Hemingway daiquiri and minty mojito are also sours). Introduced in 1922 by Robert Vermeire in his book, Cocktails: How to Mix Them, his recipe for the sidecar called for equal parts cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. Bartenders in the ensuing years have tweaked the trio of ingredients to their tastes, and the ratio I’ve landed on here offers the best balance of tart, sweet, and strong. Here’s how to make it.

Why You’ll Love It

• You won’t need an expansive liquor cabinet to make this classic cocktail. If you have Cognac, an orange liqueur like Cointreau, and a fresh lemon, you’re on your way to sipping a sidecar.

• It’s perfect anytime! A sip of this lemony cocktail is welcome in every season and for any occasion.

Key Ingredients in a Sidecar

• Cognac: Cognac is a type of barrel-aged brandy made from distilled wine that’s produced in the Cognac region of France.

• Lemon: Fresh lemon is an essential ingredient. Use the juice to moisten the rim of the glass for the sugared rim and in the drink to balance out the sweetness, and use a twist of the lemon peel as garnish.

• Orange Liqueur: Cointreau or Grand Marnier give this cocktail a subtle, bittersweet orange flavor.

• Granulated sugar: A sugared rim adds sparkle and a sweeter sip without overpowering the cocktail’s balance.

How to Make a Sidecar

1. Rim the glass with sugar. Run the cut side of a lemon over the rim of a glass to moisten, then dip into sugar.

2. Shake the cocktail. Shake freshly squeezed lemon juice, cognac, and orange liqueur with ice until the outside of the cocktail shaker is frosty.

3. Strain. Strain the sidecar into the glass and garnish with a lemon peel twist.

More Simple Citrus Cocktails to Try

• Tom Collins

• Paloma

• Pisco Sour

• Whiskey Sour

• French 75

Sidecar Recipe

A classic cocktail made with cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon.

Prep time 5 minutes

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

• 1 medium lemon

• Ice

• 1 1/2 ounces cognac

• 1 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier

Instructions

1. Spread 1 teaspoon granulated sugar in an even layer on a small flat plate. Using a vegetable peeler, remove 1 wide strip of peel from 1 medium lemon and reserve for garnish. Halve the lemon. Run one of the lemon halves over the rim of an old-fashioned or coupe glass to moisten. Invert the glass into the sugar, turning it as needed to coat the rim. If using an old-fashioned glass, fill it with ice if desired.

2. Juice the lemon halves until you have 3/4 ounce. Place the lemon juice, 1 1/2 ounces cognac, and 1 ounce orange liqueur in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty, about 20 seconds.

3. Pour through a strainer into the glass. Twist the lemon peel directly over the cocktail’s surface, then garnish with the peel.

Further Reading

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