Classic Sidecar Cocktail Recipe

Sour cocktails are a staple of the cocktail game. They've long been a favorite, though today the most popular ones involve liquor and a sour mix, such as a whiskey sour. That said, a great whiskey sour can be made by mixing the sour mix yourself. The sidecar, though, is a great brandy cocktail, one that has been around seemingly since people first started mixing "fancy" cocktails. Even more, the specific type of brandy used in a traditional sidecar is cognac. While it could be made with whiskey or other types of brandy, recipe creator Christina Musgrave has put together a pretty great cognac sidecar recipe here.

"The dominant ingredient is the cognac, but all of the ingredients really work together in harmony in this cocktail," says Musgrave. While there are other drinks you should have in your repertoire, the sidecar is a standby, complete with cocktail shaker, that any good host should be able to throw together when entertaining. 

Start off your shopping trip with the cognac. "I used Domaine Tariquet VSOP and enjoyed it in this sidecar," Musgrave says, though you could mix it up with one of these cognacs that our team at Tasting Table suggests.

You'll also need a bottle of orange liqueur, like Cointreau or Curaçao. Finish with some lemon juice and some sugar for the rim.

To really tie this drink together, use a coupe glass. Wet the rim of a chilled glass with a bit of water and dip it in the sugar. Then set aside the glass and get to the liquor.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. The pour in the cognac, the lemon juice, and the orange liqueur. Musgrave suggests Cointreau. "I'm partial to Cointreau and really enjoy the flavor in a sidecar," she says. You could also double up the ingredients in the shaker if you're entertaining a guest. "You can definitely mix two in a shaker at once," Musgrave explains.

Shake up the cocktail mixer, trying look as sophisticated as you can while shaking it. Then strain the drink into a sugar-rimmed coupe. "You could drink this alone or pair with food," Musgrave says. "I don't think there's a particular pairing, but I'd serve this with some snacks such as nuts, cheese, and crackers." Or you can enjoy the drink just by itself for a delicious, old-fashioned evening.