The sidecar is another famous cocktail that came out of Paris in the Twenties, thanks to Prohibition driving the best bartenders out of the country. It is said to have been invented at the Ritz Hotel by American ex-pat Frank Meyer, the head bartender. It was a favorite of Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Henry Miller. The Sidecar is also an ideal after-dinner option or even a nightcap because of its “candied” nature. Cognac is rarely mixed with juices, as the subtle qualities in fine brandy are easily lost in cocktails. The Sidecar is one exception—it blends cognac and Cointreau beautifully and balances them out with fresh lemon juice. The key to this cocktail is its sugar rim on the glass. This dissolves on the tongue and mixes with the rest of the drink to create the perfect balance, leaving room for the brandy. For a simple variation on the Sidecar, add a splash of Benedictine and lose the sugar rim to create the Honeymoon.

　　

Ingredients

makes 1 drink

　　Lemon wedge

　　Superfine sugar, for rim

　　1 1/4 ounces Courvoisier VS cognac

　　1 1/4 ounces Cointreau

　　1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice

　　1 orange twist, for garnish

　　

Step 1

Moisten the rim of a cocktail glass with the lemon wedge. Carefully dip the rim in the sugar so that only the very top edge is coated evenly. Place the glass in the freezer to let the sugar rim harden. Pour the cognac, Cointreau, and juice into a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes and shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange twist.

　　

tasting notes

Step 2

Dominant Flavors: citrus, heavy on oranges with orange on the nose

　　

Step 3

Body: medium, rich

　　

Step 4

Dryness: medium

　　

Step 5

Complexity: low to medium

　　

Step 6

Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: sugar granules and oak

　　

Step 7

Finish: short with orange oil and lemon overtones

　　

Step 8

Glass: cocktail

　　Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.