The Sidecar Cocktail is a classic 3-ingredient cocktail perfect for night caps, date nights, or when you’re entertaining and need an easy-to-make drink for guests. All you need for this cocktail is some cognac, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice.
While the proportions of this cocktail are much debated—as is true for most simple cocktails—we like ours a bit heavier on orange liqueur and the lemon juice.
Ingredients
Cognac
Cognac is a type of French brandy which is a liquor made from distilling wine. Cognac can be confusing to buy and often time hard to find. For starters, here in the US, you will likely find cognac behind the register at liquor stores instead of in the aisles. Not only that, there are many grades of Cognac which are determined by how long it is aged:
- VS or 3 stars = aged 2 years
- VSOP = aged 4 years
- Napoléon = aged 6 years
- XO = aged 10 years
Not surprisingly, as the age increases, so does the price. You don’t need a pricey bottle of cognac for this cocktail Stick to a middle-of-the-road VS or VSOP.
You can use cognac in all kinds of cocktails including the Classic Champagne Cocktail, a Brandy Alexander, and Between the Sheets (which is essentially a sidecar with rum added).
Orange Liqueur
Any triple sec or orange liqueur will do—our favorite is Cointreau.
Lemon Juice
As always, when it comes to cocktails, fresh citrus juice is key! Bottled lemon juice just does not add the right flavor.
How to Make
It could not be easier to make! Add everything to a cocktail shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake vigorously to chill then strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Variations on The Sidecar Cocktail
The sidecar cocktail is a classic sour-style cocktail consisting of liquor, citrus juice and sweetener. In a sidecar cocktail the orange liqueur is acting as the sweetener.
Some other variations you can try include a Vodka Sidecar (replace the cognac with vodka), Bourbon Sidecar (replace the cognac with bourbon and add a splash of simple syrup or maple syrup) and Between the Sheets which uses ¾ ounce rum and ¾ ounce cognac in place of the 1 ½ ounces cognac. We also like to add ½ an ounce of limoncello occasionally!
Other Cocktail Recipes to Try
- If you like a sour cocktail, then you’ve got to make our New York Whiskey Sour. It’s stunning and absolutely delicious.
- Our Smoky Whiskey Sour is a fun take on the classic whiskey sour with the addition of mezcal.
- Our Blood Orange Boston Sour is a stunning cocktail for winter. Made with vibrant blood orange juice and a bit of egg white, this cocktail comes out with a lovely ruby hue and a foamy white top.
- For another sweet and tart cocktail, try our luscious Limoncello Martini.
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Sidecar Cocktail
Description
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounce cognac VS or VSOP, such as Rémy Martin
- 1 ounce orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
- ¾ ounce lemon juice
Instructions
- Add everything to a shaker filled halfway with ice. Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
- Strain into a coupe glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
