Cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice make this Sidecar. The proportions here are 2 oz cognac, 1 oz orange liqueur, and 3/4 oz lemon juice, shaken with ice and served without ice in the glass.
Ingredients
- 2 oz (60 ml) Cognac
- 1 oz (30 ml) Orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec)
- 3/4 oz (22 ml) Fresh lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Glass: If you’re adding a sugar rim, start by moistening the rim of a cocktail glass with a lemon wedge. Dip the rim into sugar, rotating it until evenly coated. Set aside.
- Mix the Drink: In a shaker, combine the cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice, ensuring there's enough ice to chill the mixture thoroughly.
- Shake: Secure the lid on the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds. The goal is to chill the mixture quickly while slightly diluting it with the melting ice, which rounds out the flavors.
- Strain and Serve: Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass. The fine strain is optional but recommended if you prefer to remove any small ice shards or pulp from the lemon juice.
- Garnish: Add a twist of orange peel over the drink to express its oils, then drop it into the drink or perch it on the rim of the glass as a garnish. Alternatively, if you’ve chosen a sugar rim, the garnish adds a decorative touch and a hint of aroma.
Preparation notes
- Chill the serving glass before shaking the drink. Strain out the shaking ice rather than adding it to the finished cocktail.
- A sugar rim is optional. Coating part of the rim lets the drinker choose how much sugar accompanies each sip.
- Cointreau or triple sec supplies the orange-liqueur component; the recipe calls for one, not both.
