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Recipe

Sidecar (sweet)

35 min • 2 to 4 servings •
Andrew Sachs
Lemon drop martini in a sugar-rimmed glass with a lemon twist, ice-filled shaker, and fresh lemons on a kitchen counter.

Here’s a drink that took me a delightful period of trial and error to master. Now purists such as David Embury insist that a sidecar should not be too sweet. I agree with that sentiment when you have a quality cognac on hand. For the other times when a reasonable brandy will do, this is a drink that is sure to delight.

Ready

  • Brandy or cognac
  • Lemon
  • Cointreau
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups sugar
  • Ice
  • Additional sugar for rim of cocktail glass (optional)

    • Set

  • Zester
  • Saucepan
  • Shaker
  • Small plate to rim glass with sugar (optional)

    • Go!

  • Zest the rind of one lemon into a saucepan. Add 1 cup of water and two cups of sugar. Simmer over a medium low heat for 15 minutes. Set lemon syrup aside and let cool.
  • Place cocktail glasses in freezer for at least 15 minutes.
  • Pour a few tablespoons of sugar into a small plate.
  • In a cocktail shaker add 2 parts brandy, 1 part Cointreau, 1 part lemon juice, 1 part cooled lemon syrup and a lot of ice. Shake vigorously.
  • Remove glass from freezer.
  • Rim the outside top edge of the chilled cocktail glasses with a wedge of lemon and then carefully roll the rimmed edge in the sugar until the the top is lightly coated.
  • Pour sidecar into the chilled, sugar rimmed cocktail glasses.

    • Recommendations

    Adjust this recipe to taste. If you don’t like it too sweet or if you are using a quality (expensive) brandy or cognac than by all means use less lemon syrup. You can always adjust to taste.
    Store leftover lemon syrup in a glass container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months — if it lasts that long. The lemon syrup is also great for making Sparkling lemonade

    brandy cognac lemon sidecar

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