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Sidecar, Cocktail #68

🏠 » Cocktails » Swank Cocktail Guide: 80 cocktails in 80 days

Sidecar cocktail
Sidecar cocktail

The Sidecar is cocktail number 68 on the Swank Cocktail Guide.

Sidecar cocktail history

The Sidecar was most likely created in the late 1910s or early 1920s in London or Paris Several have claimed to be the inventor of the Sidecar cocktail including the Ritz Hotel in Paris. In “Harry” of the New York Bar Paris (Late of Ciro’s’), ABC of Mixing Cocktails, Harry McElhone credits Pat MacGarry, Bartender at Buck’s Club, London wth creation of the Sidecar.

Harry McElhone, “Harry” of the New York Bar Paris (Late of Ciro’s’), ABC of Mixing Cocktails, p. 76, Sidecar Cocktail.

By 1923, news of the cocktail had made its way to Missouri, with a newspaper article calling it a “new cocktail “…named a sidecar, because it takes the imbiber for a ride. Two-thirds brandy, one-sixth Cointreau and one-sixth lemon juice make up this concoction.”

"Monkey Gland is Popular in Paris," newspaper article, The Springfield Missouri Republican (Springfield, Missouri), p. 2, col. 1.
“Monkey Gland is Popular in Paris,” newspaper article, The Springfield Missouri Republican (Springfield, Missouri), p. 2, col. 1.

Sidecar cocktail recipe

Sidecar cocktail recipe
Sidecar cocktail recipe

1 jigger Brandy, 1/2 jigger Cointreau, 1/2 jigger Lemon juice. Shake well with ice and strain.

Ingredients used:

  • E & J Brandy Grand Blue
  • Cointreau
  • Fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Sidecar cocktail review

Our ratings (1-5 🍸)

Greg: 🍸🍸🍸
Kim: 🍸🍸🍸

Enough citrus to almost mask the Cointreau, but not quite. We drank it – didn’t love it, although we are not huge fans of Cointreau.

Next up… Cocktail # 69, Silver Fizz

Swank Cocktail Guide: 80 cocktails in 80 days

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