In the article, Sidecar: The Story Behind the Name, we take a journey into the story behind our business name, Sidecar Marketing Solutions. Here, for an after-hours journey, I share my first encounter with the drink, the origin of the sidecar cocktail and my favorite recipe.
Discovery of the Sidecar Cocktail
I first discovered the sidecar cocktail while living in San Francisco. My dad had a friend, an older, very dapper gentleman, who loved to “dress to the nines” and enjoy the best food and drink. While attending a dinner party at his apartment, he handed me a beautiful drink and said to me, “Do not drink this, savor it.” That was good advice, and with my first sip, the sidecar became an instant favorite.
The story of the sidecar is a little muddled, especially since both London and Paris want to take the credit for inventing the drink. The stories all seem to involve a man, a motorcycle, a sidecar, and a bartender name Pat during WWII.
There are many variations over the years, but the classic sidecar cocktail recipe below still stands on its own.
Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz Cognac
- ¾ oz Cointreau
- ¾ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
- sugar for rim
Instructions:
- Rim cocktail glasses with lemon juice, rim with sugar and set them to chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Shake all ingredients with shaved or crushed ice in a cocktail shaker, and strain into frosted glasses.
- Optionally, drop in 1-2 maraschino cherries per glass or garnish with lemon peel.
- Serve and enjoy — driving goggles optional!
