The Sidecar

The Sidecar is a classic cocktail that has been around for close to a century. It is a delicious and temptatious combination of cognac or brandy, orange liqueur, and lemon juice, with a sugared rim.

History

The dawn of the Sidecar cocktail is somewhat in dispute, but it is generally believed to have originated in the early 20th century, possibly in Paris, France or in London, England.

One story is that the Sidecar was invented at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during World War I. It is said that an American Army captain who regularly rumbled up at the hotel in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle sidecar asked the bartender to create a cocktail that would warm him up during his rides. The bartender reportedly mixed cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice to create the drink, which he named after the captain’s trusty Harley.

Another theory suggests that the Sidecar was created in London, where it was a popular drink among British officers during the war. According to this theory, the drink was named after the motorcycle sidecar used to transport prisoners during the war.

Regardless of its origins, the Sidecar immediately became a popular cocktail and was embraced by bartending society. It was included in Harry MacElhone’s 1922 book, “Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails,” which helped to solidify its place in cocktail culture.

Here’s how to make a time-honored Sidecar cocktail:

Ingredients:

• 2 oz cognac or brandy
• 1 oz Cointreau or other orange liqueur
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• Sugar for rimming the glass
• Lemon twist for garnish

Instructions:

1. Rim a chilled cocktail glass with sugar by rubbing a lemon wedge around the rim, then dipping it into a small bowl of sugar.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add the cognac or brandy, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice.
3. Shake the cocktail vigorously for about 15 seconds, or until well chilled.
4. Strain the cocktail into the sugar-rimmed glass.
5. Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.

Note: You can fine tune the amount of lemon juice and sugar to suit your taste. Some variations may also call for a splash of simple syrup or grenadine to add sweetness to the cocktail.