Classic Sidecar Recipe

How To Make A Sidecar

The Ritz Hotel in Paris claims to have invented the Sidecar in 1922, though some offer up different origins. The cocktail is named after the motorcycle attachment. If you fancy yourself a Sidecar enthusiast, know that you’re not alone. This drink holds a well-earned spot on the 50 most popular cocktails in the world. Check out the other 49 that made the cut.

The Recipe
Sidecar FAQ
Sidecar Variations

Sidecar Ingredients

1 ¾ oz Brandy
1 oz Lemon
3/4 oz Triple sec

Sidecar Directions

Combine all ingredients in shaker tin
Add ice to small shaker tin.
Shake vigorously, until tin is frosted over.
Strain into chilled cocktail glass, rimmed with sugar
Garnish with lemon twist and enjoy.

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(192 votes)

Yield: 1 Cocktail
Calories: 141
Updated: 2024-04-22

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Sidecar FAQ

Why is it called a Sidecar?

Like for many cocktails, narrowing down the origins of the name of the Sidecar can be challenging at best. Many believe the name comes from an army captain who rode up to Harry’s Bar in Paris in the sidecar of a motorcycle before ordering a cocktail similar in composition to that of the Sidecar cocktail, and thus the name was born.

Other arguments regarding the origins of the name point towards bartenders coining the term. As written by Dale DeGroff in “The Essential Cocktail,” “the word sidecar means something totally different in the world of the cocktail: if the bartender misses his mark on ingredient quantities, when he strains the drink into the serving glass [and] there’s a bit left over in the shaker, he pours out that little extra into a shot glass on the side - that little glass is called a sidecar.

What type of Cognac do you use in a Sidecar?

Since the Sidecar has a light flavor profile, it is best to use Cognacs that are relatively young in terms of time spent aging. This typically means reaching for VS and VSOP Cognacs, which have been aged for at least two to four years.

Sidecar Variations To Try:

The Lavender Sidecar - Cognac often gets grouped in with sipping spirits, but it’s a versatile cocktail ingredient. Lavender brings out its floral notes in this easy, elegant cocktail.
Rémy Martin 1738 Banana Sidecar - A classic Sidecar is a refreshingly simple cocktail, typically made with cognac. However, this particular recipe changes things up a bit.