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Liqueurs · Sours · IBA official

Sidecar

Rich cognac balanced right against tart lemon and orange sweetness.

Coupe
  • 45 ml1.5 ozcognac
  • 15 ml0.5 oztriple sec
  • 15 ml0.5 ozlemon juice

Garnish: sugar rim (optional)

Method
Shaken
Strength
~24% ABV
Difficulty
●●●

Method

  1. Rim a coupe with sugar if desired.
  2. Shake cognac, triple sec and lemon juice hard with ice.
  3. Strain into the prepared glass.
  4. No further garnish needed.

The story

Paris in the years around the first World War gets the credit, supposedly named for a patron who rode to the bar in a motorcycle sidecar. It is one of the cleanest three-ingredient drinks ever written down, and it has barely needed a tweak since.

Flavour

Boozy
Sour
Citrus
Sweet
Rich
Fruity

Quick answers

Sidecar questions

How do you make a Sidecar?

Rim a coupe with sugar if desired. Shake cognac, triple sec and lemon juice hard with ice. Strain into the prepared glass. No further garnish needed. You need 45 ml (1.5 oz) cognac, 15 ml (0.5 oz) triple sec and 15 ml (0.5 oz) lemon juice.

What's in a Sidecar?

Cognac, triple sec and lemon juice, garnished with sugar rim (optional).

Is a Sidecar shaken or stirred?

Shaken. Shaking chills, dilutes and aerates the citrus or cream.

What glass is a Sidecar served in?

A coupe, with no ice.

How strong is a Sidecar?

About 24% ABV once it is diluted, about as strong as a glass of fortified wine.

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