Sidecar
Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon. The elegant post-war sour.
- Strength
- 20% ABV
- Standard drinks (US)
- 1.6
- Calories
- 179 kcal
- In the glass
- 4⅞ oz
- Method
- Shaken
- Cognac
- Orange Liqueur
- Lemon Juice
How to Make a Sidecar
- Add the cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 to 15 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish with a sugar rim and an orange twist.
Print the Pour GuideA true-scale card for your boston shaker glass with a line for every pour.
Free Pour With Your CameraLine up your glass and pour to the lines on screen.
Tilt Pour With Your PhoneStrap your phone to the bottle. It counts every pour and buzzes at the measure.
About the Sidecar
Both the Ritz in Paris and Buck's Club in London claim it, around the end of World War I. The name may come from a regular who arrived by motorcycle sidecar.
Bartender's tip: Sugar half the rim so the drink stays balanced.
Taste Profile
Sweet
Sour
Bitter
Strong
Fresh
Good to Know
- What glass is a Sidecar served in?
- A coupe. The stem keeps your hand away from the cold drink, and the curved rim makes it far harder to spill than a V-shaped martini glass.
- Is a Sidecar shaken or stirred?
- Shaken. It contains citrus, juice, cream or egg, which need the force and aeration of shaking.
- How strong is a Sidecar?
- About 20% ABV after dilution, or roughly 1.6 US standard drinks (22 g of alcohol) per serve.
- How many calories are in a Sidecar?
- Roughly 179 kcal per drink, most of it from alcohol.
- Can I make a Sidecar without cognac?
- Yes. Bourbon is the closest substitute, though the drink will taste different.