Cocktail · Brandy Cocktails

Sidecar Recipe

Name: Sidecar
Prep time: 4 min
Total time: 4 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 50 ml Cognac; 20 ml Triple sec; 20 ml Fresh lemon juice; 1 pinch Sugar

Cognac, orange liqueur and lemon, served up.

Cognac

Base Spirit

~23%

Approx ABV

Easy

Difficulty

4 min

Prep Time

🥂 Coupe 🧊 None, served up Tart, rich, orangey

The Sidecar is a classic sour of cognac, orange liqueur and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served in a stemmed glass, often with a sugared rim. It is rich, tart and warming, and it is the best-known cognac cocktail.

Ingredients

Makes

50 ml Cognac VS or VSOP
20 ml Triple sec Cointreau is traditional
20 ml Fresh lemon juice
1 pinch Sugar (optional) For the rim

Garnish: Orange twist, optional sugar rim

How to Make a Sidecar

Rub a lemon wedge around half the rim of a coupe and dip it in sugar, if you like.
Add the cognac, triple sec and lemon juice to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake hard for 12 seconds.
Double strain into the coupe.
Garnish with an orange or lemon twist.

Best Bottles for a Sidecar in India

Top pick

Hennessy VSOP Cognac

From ₹8,075 · ★ 8.7/10
Fruit and oak that stand up to lemon

Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.

Tips for a Better Sidecar

Sugar only half the rim so that you can choose a sweet or a dry sip.
Use a quality orange liqueur. It makes up a quarter of the drink.
If the drink is too sharp, add 5ml of sugar syrup. Do not add more liqueur.

About the Sidecar

The Sidecar appeared at the end of the First World War, and both Paris and London claim it. The Paris story places it at the Ritz Hotel or Harry's New York Bar and says it was named for an army captain who arrived at the bar in a motorcycle sidecar. The London story credits Pat MacGarry, the bartender at Buck's Club.

It was first printed in 1922 in two books: Harry MacElhone's Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails and Robert Vermeire's Cocktails: How to Mix Them. Early editions of MacElhone's book credit MacGarry.

The drink descends from the Brandy Crusta of 1850s New Orleans and is the model for the Margarita, which follows the same pattern of spirit, orange liqueur and citrus. It is an IBA official cocktail. Two ratios survive: the French school of equal parts, and the English school of two parts cognac to one each of liqueur and lemon.

Sidecar Variations

Between the Sheets: split the base between cognac and white rum.
White Lady: gin in place of cognac.
Bourbon Sidecar: bourbon in place of cognac.
Calvados Sidecar: apple brandy in place of cognac.
Margarita: the same template with tequila and lime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a Sidecar?

A Sidecar is made with 50ml (1.75 oz) cognac, 20ml (0.75 oz) triple sec and 20ml (0.75 oz) fresh lemon juice. It is served in a coupe.

How strong is a Sidecar?

Made to this recipe, a Sidecar is about 23% ABV and contains roughly 22 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.6 US standard drinks, 2.2 Australian standard drinks or 2.8 UK units. It has around 180 calories per serving.

What is the best cognac for a Sidecar?

A VSOP gives the best balance of fruit and oak. A VS is cheaper and works well. There is no need to use an XO in a shaken drink.

Can you make a Sidecar with brandy instead of cognac?

Yes. Any good grape brandy works, including Armagnac, Spanish brandy and quality Indian or Australian brandy.

Does a Sidecar need a sugar rim?

It is optional. The sugar rim is a later addition and suits a sharper recipe. Sugar half the rim if you are unsure.

What is the difference between a Sidecar and a Margarita?

They share a template of spirit, orange liqueur and citrus. A Sidecar uses cognac and lemon. A Margarita uses tequila and lime, with salt in place of sugar on the rim.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026