The Classic Sidecar Cocktail

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A potent tincture with a lovely orange essence sums up the Sidecar, a classic Cognac cocktail with a provenance dating back to WWI.

Prep Time5

Total Time5

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: cocktail

Cost: $4.60 per drink depending on caliber of liquors used

2 ounces (1/4 cup) VSOP Cognac may substitute Armagnac or a very good bourbon
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Cointreau
½ ounce (1 tablespoon) lemon juice 1 lemon and 1 Meyer lemon, freshly squeezed; a combination of both juices

Juice a regular lemon together with a Meyer lemon and mix. If you cannot find Meyer lemons, it’s okay to just use the juice of the regular lemon but consider rimming your glassware with superfine sugar.
To sugar-coat a rim, make a slit in a lemon wedge. Run the cut around the rim, then dip the juiced rim into a shallow plate of superfine sugar. Place the coup into the refrigerator to chill until you’re ready to use.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juices until ICY COLD, about 10 seconds. Strain into your prepared coups. Garnish with candied cocktail fruits if desired.

ProTip: shake the Sidecar with ice for 10 seconds. Shaking longer may result in a semi watered-down cocktail as the ice breaks down.

Quality Counts. The better the booze, the better tasting and smoother the finished cocktail will taste.