Classic Drinks: The Sidecar co*cktail Recipe - The Effortless Chic (2024)

This sidecar co*cktail recipe is a classic for a reason. The cognac co*cktail is flavored with lemon and orange for a refreshing citrus drink. It's easy to make and delicious to drink!

Whenever we host at our place, I love to include a co*cktail for the evening. Wine is great, but there is something about a craft co*cktail that makes it feel like an extra special event. For Christmas Eve with my family, I love sugared cranberry margaritas and this blackberry thyme sparkler has been made for the last three New Year's Eves in a row! For an intimate dinner party, though, I love a classic co*cktail. Enter this Sidecar co*cktail Recipe.

How do you make a Sidecar Drink? Here's the Step by Step:

1. Begin by peeling a large section of each of the lemon rinds and placing it aside for garnish.
2. Next, cut each of the lemons into halves.
3. Place sugar on a small plate. Moisten the rim of a coupe glass with lemon juice by placing them upside down on the cutting board that you used to halve the lemons. Next dip each glass into the sugar; shake off the excess and set aside.
4. Combine cognac, orange liqueur, and 2 ounces of fresh squeezed lemon juice in a co*cktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
5. Strain co*cktail into glass and enjoy immediately.

The Origin of the Sidecar co*cktail

The origins for this classic co*cktail date back to the 1920s, although different publications tout different ratios of the ingredients. The Sidecar co*cktail is thought to have been the invention of an army captain in Paris during World War 1 and named after the motorcycle sidecar that he used.

What is in a Sidecar? Sidecar Ingredients:

This co*cktail has exactly three ingredients if you don't count the sugar on the rim and, you know what? It doesn't need any more.

• Lemon juice
• Cognac
• Orange liqueur

It's perfectly simple and simply perfect.

How Do You Serve A Sidecar?

The sidecar should be served straight up and without ice - it is shaken with ice so it is cold before it is poured into the glass. I like serving them in coupe glasses and the sugar rim cuts through the tart citrus flavor. Finish with a little lemon peel for garnish.

Top Tips For Making A Sidecar co*cktail

• Use fresh lemon juice, not the bottled store bought varieties.
• Shake the shaker until it is cold to the touch.
• Garnish with a lemon twist
• Serve immediately.

Substitutes for Cognac

Brandy refers to any spirit that is distilled from fruit-based wine, though in general it refers to grape wines. Cognac is a specific type of brandy produced from distilled white wine. It is made from grapes that are produced in or around the Cognac region of France. In order to be labeled cognac, it must be aged for at least two years in oak casks. While all cognacs are brandies, not all brandies are cognacs because of these strict requirements. If you're looking to substitute cognac in this co*cktail for something less expensive or more accessible, try another type of brandy. If you have whiskey or bourbon around, you can also substitute these for the cognac. Whiskey and bourbon tend to be slightly less sweet so that will give your Sidecar co*cktail a slightly different taste.

If you've tried this co*cktail I'd love to hear from you! Be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!

Be sure to check out these other co*cktail recipes:

Vanilla Pumpkin Spice Mules

Stone Fruit Summertime Sangria

Springtime Whiskey Sour Recipe

Berry Mezcal Cooler

Smokey Old Fashioned

Photography for thisSidecar co*cktail Recipe by Katie Jameson