Today we’re taking a long hard look at the Sidecar, a classic cocktail said to have been invented after World War I. The first Sidecar recipes appeared in 1922, in Harry MacElhone’s Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails and Robert Vermeire’s Cocktails and How to Mix Them. It is one of six basic drinks listed in David A. Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. Both MacElhone and Vermiere list the recipe as equal parts Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice, now known as “the French school”. Later, an “English school” of Sidecars emerged, as found in the Savoy Cocktail Book, which call for two parts Cognac and one part each Cointreau and lemon juice.
The Sidecar is related to the Daiquiri, the difference being that a Sidecar has brandy as it’s base rather than rum. Also note that the ingredients and proportions are almost identical to a Margarita, except that of course a Margarita has tequila as its base and not brandy.
Sidecar
- 1 oz brandy or Cognac
- 1 oz Cointreau (or Triple Sec if you have that instead)
- 1 oz lemon juice
Shake over ice cubes in a shaker, strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a sugared rim. Garnish with a lemon peel. As I noted before, it’s almost identical to a Margarita in theory, but the similarities end there. In a Margarita the lemon juice goes perfectly with the tequila to create a citrus-laden, almost sour taste. Here the lemon juice seems to fight with the brandy almost. The drink isn’t bad per se (I could get used to this) but I find the combination of sour citrus and smooth brandy to be a little…off-putting.
Another kind of sassy sidecar.
Okay, Svet, an ultimatum: it’s either the mixed drinks columnist or Mick van Dyck. You decide. To me they are equally off-putting.
May 27, 2009 at 1:54 pmDitto. My mom turned me onto these and they’re one of very few things we both consider a favorite. Brandy, bringing families together.
May 27, 2009 at 2:00 pmI think this is only fair if others shared recipes now and then.
May 27, 2009 at 2:03 pmFond of conspicuous drinking but hate exorbitant restaurant prices? Consider Yorshik. Pronounced [`jor-shik]. Diminutive of Yorsh. Yorshik originates in Russia. So here you are with some friends, all eager and fired up to sit at an outdoor table in order to watch passers by while exhibiting yourself. Before you go, purchase a bottle of vodka of the size easily concealed in your pocket or a purse. Next order a cheap beer. When the beer arrives, secretly pour 1-2 ounces of vodka into it. You’re guaranteed to have your fun at a minimal cost. This method was used by Soviet tourists abroad to save the precious hard currency. Make sure to ask for a glass if the beer arrrives in a bottle. Try it and thank me later.
May 27, 2009 at 3:38 pmwhat ernest is describing is what some like to call queer beer, shot of flavored vodka into a light beer. they get the job done
May 29, 2009 at 3:30 pm
one of my all time favorites
May 27, 2009 at 1:49 pm