• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Flour Child logo

  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Privacy
  • Gift Guides
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Classic Cocktails
  • Dinners
  • About Us
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Classic Cocktails » The Sidecar Cocktail, a sweet and sour classic

    Published: Jul 17, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Kevin Mayfield · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The Sidecar Cocktail, a sweet and sour classic

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The Sidecar sweet and sour classic cocktail is a refreshing ride down memory lane. Try both the British and the French versions of this mid century favorite.

    The sweet and sour Sidecar cocktail contains brandy, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice for a refreshing drink.

    Lemons fresh off the tree make it sweet and sour

    I am a Chicago transplant to Los Angeles. I am fascinated by the concept of walking out to my backyard and picking fresh fruit right off the tree and eating it. We have an old and prolific lemon tree that produces more lemons than anyone could possibly ever use in a single season, or even a lifetime it seems.

    Taking the day off from thinking of things to make with lemon (you can only eat so many lemon squares, right?) I went to our local bar and told the bartender to surprise me with a cocktail. He knows I usually like bourbon drinks, but this time he whipped up something different. It was one of the fastest, simplest cocktails he’d served me, but in that simplicity lay sweet and sour perfection. Using just three readily available ingredients, he made me a Sidecar cocktail. It was delicious, refreshing and simple. And yes, it contained lemon juice. I knew I had a Sidecar factory right in my backyard!

    How to make it is a geography lesson

    The cocktail originated in either Paris or London after World War I. There is some lore around different types of army units adopting it as their group drink. The army scouts rode motorcycles, which in those days had a sidecar. How that translated into the drink’s name is lost in the mists of time. Which bartender in which city you believe created the drink will influence how you make it. The French version has equal parts of all three ingredients, whereas the English version has more cognac. I’ve made them both ways and they’re both delicious. I prefer the French version on a hot day because it's very thirst-quenching due to the extra lemon juice. (Think of a spiked lemonade.) Most of the time I will make the English version and sip it before it warms up too much.

    What you'll need to make a Sidecar Cocktail

    You'll only need a handful of ingredients to quickly whip this up:

    1. Brandy
    2. Orange Liqueur
    3. Fresh Lemon Juice

    How to drink it

    I’d also be remiss if I didn’t talk about which type of glass to use. My bartender told me that it should be served in a cocktail glass. That seems pretty simple, right? But what exactly is a cocktail glass? Great question! Imagine a glass the shape of an inverted bowl on a stem — kind of like an upside down funnel, and you’re actually imagining a cocktail glass. So the next question is why that type of glass? Since it is served with no ice, the heat of your hand would warm it if served in a tumbler. Therefore, you want to hold it by the stem of a cocktail glass to keep your drink chilled longer. That’s never been a problem for me. These go down so quickly they never get the chance to warm up!

    Tips for success

    Remember to do the following and you can't go wrong with this simple cocktail:

    1. Use fresh lemon juice
    2. Serve it in the proper type of glass
    3. Unless requested, do not sugar the rim of the glass

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does a sidecar taste like?

    This cocktail is best described as sweet and sour. The lemon juice gives it a tangy flavor and the orange liqueur sweetens it up.

    What do you think of the Sidecar? Let me know if this drink works for you.

    The sweet and sour Sidecar cocktail

    Kevin Mayfield
    A post WWI classic cocktail that came into its own in the mid century. This cocktail contains fresh lemon juice and orange liqueur that compliments the brandy with a sweet and sour refreshing taste.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 7 mins
    Total Time 7 mins
    Course Cocktails
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 Serving
    Calories 225 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 oz brandy
    • 1 oz Cointreau
    • 1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Fill your cocktail shaker with two generous scoops of ice, and pour in all of your ingredients.
    • Shake vigorously for a few seconds, then strain into a cocktail glass.
    • Add a bit of lemon peel for garnish. Sugar the rim if desired.

    Notes

    Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled to ensure you have a drinkable cocktail.
    To make the French version of this cocktail, use equal measures of each ingredient.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 39mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword British cocktails, English Cocktails, French cocktails, madmen cocktails, mid century cocktails, rat pack cocktails
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Tuna Noodle Casserole With Buttered Cracker Topping
    Southern Sweet Creamed Corn in a Skillet »

    About Kevin Mayfield

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

      St Patty's Day Favorites

      • Authentic Irish Coffee Recipe
      • Corned Beef Hash From Scratch is the Best Breakfast Around

      Soups & Stews

      • Easy Lasagna Soup (Stovetop and Crockpot Methods)
      • Simple Lentil Soup Recipe
      • Old Fashioned Vegetable Barley Soup
      • Super Bowl Chili Is The Perfect Football Food
      • Beef Burgundy Stew - Warm Comfort on a Cold Night
      • The Best Baked Potato Soup

      Popular Recipes

      • Simple Amaretto Sour Cocktail
      • Candied Orange Peel Recipe
      • Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake
      • Classic Manhattan Cocktail with Bourbon

      • Email
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Privacy Policy
      • Accessibility Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Contact

      • Contact

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2022 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme