Sidecar Cocktail

I can’t drink (or really even think) about a sidecar cocktail without being transported back to 2011. For me, that was the year of the sidecar. That was very much my go-to order that year, and I still bust out this order from time to time.

I tend to have a certain cocktail that I order endlessly for a year or two and then I switch to something else. Is anyone else like that? And the year I started dating my now husband, I was on a sidecar kick. 🙂

And just in case you’re curious, my current obsession is a Negroni.

Related: 40 Fun Cocktails to Make at Home and 25+ Refreshing Spring Cocktails

Here’s a few things I love about a sidecar. First, it’s a classic cocktail, so it’s something you can order at pretty much any bar that does cocktails well (meaning, not just mixed drinks).

It’s incredibly refreshing and just the right amount of sweet. An excellent spring/summer cocktail for sure. Plus, it’s SUPER easy to make. It’s only three ingredients but still manages to feel really special.

When I make this at home, I usually keep it classic (simply follow the recipe below). But you can also change it up with just a dash of bitters or garnishing with a Luxardo cherry.

And if you thought you had lemons but find you only have limes, oranges, or grapefruit, that can work well in a pinch, although the final flavor will be different.

In short, if you need a cocktail recipe that is easy to make but will impress an impromptu guest this season, shake up a couple sidecars. You’ll look like a total pro—plus I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t like lemon. 😉

We have also decided to add these adorable AND informative illustrations of some of our classic cocktails to our posts. Cheers! -Emma

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4.50 from 4 votes

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Yield 1

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• ▢ 1 ounce lemon juice
• ▢ 1 ounce triple sec
• ▢ 2 ounces cognac

Instructions

• In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add these ingredients. Shake well, until your hand begins to freeze to the shaker. Strain into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge, twist, or Luxardo cherry.

Notes

If you want to jazz this up a little, add a dash of bitter before shaking. You can also substitute the cognac for brandy or even bourbon if that’s more your speed (aka what you have on hand).

Keywords cocktails, sidecar