Inside this vintage cocktail you’ll find a spirited blend of fine Cognac and a luxurious pour of Cointreau brightened with a splash of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Sipped through a rim of orange, sweetened with delicate sugar crystals, this chilled beverage is simply perfect for a weekend of relaxation!
It’s a long holiday weekend so we welcome the excuse to toast the unofficial end to summer. And this cocktail is up to such a task. The Sidecar was named for that quirky attachment to a motorcycle – one that allows you to sit back and enjoy the world around you. Though there is no clear history on the origin of The Sidecar, it appeared on the cocktail scene sometime near the end of World War I. Having been around over a century the basics are still essentially the same. Cognac or brandy with a pour of Cointreau and fresh lemon juice.
Then the fill shaker with ice and shake until the drink is frosty cold.
Pour it up in a glass with a rim swiped with fresh orange and dipped in sugar, creating a delicious band of sparkling crystals.
Go shake up a batch, then relax and watch the world go by!
The Sidecar
¼ to ½ cup sugar
1 orange
6 tablespoons good Cognac or Brandy
3 tablespoons Cointreau
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice for shaking
Place the sugar in a shallow bowl or dish. Use enough to the bottom of the bowl. Using a sharp knife, peel the orange. Slice out strips from the peelings, about 2” to 3” in length. Cut the orange in half and run it around the rim of the cocktail glasses. Roll or dip the rims in the bowl of sugar to thoroughly coat, creating a sugared rim. Set the glasses aside to let the sugar dry a bit.
Pour the Cognac into a cocktail shaker along with the Cointreau and the lemon juice.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the drink is well chilled.
Carefully strain the chilled cocktail into the sugar rimmed glasses, taking care not to knock off the sugar.
Twist a piece of the orange peel over the cocktail, then toss it in for garnish.
Makes 2 cocktails.
The Sidecar
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- ¼ to ½ cup sugar
- 1 orange
- 6 tablespoons good Cognac or Brandy
- 3 tablespoons Cointreau
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice for shaking
Instructions
- Place the sugar in a shallow bowl or dish. Use enough to the bottom of the bowl.
- Using a sharp knife, peel the orange. Slice out strips from the peelings, about 2” to 3” in length.
- Cut the orange in half and run it around the rim of the cocktail glasses. Roll or dip the rims in the bowl of sugar to thoroughly coat, creating a sugared rim. Set the glasses aside to let the sugar dry a bit.
- Pour the Cognac into a cocktail shaker along with the Cointreau and the lemon juice.
- Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until the drink is well chilled.
- Carefully strain the chilled cocktail into the sugar rimmed glasses, taking care not to knock off the sugar.
- Twist a piece of the orange peel over the cocktail, then toss it in for garnish.
