30 ml Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cognac
20 ml Cointreau (orange liqueur)
10 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice: clear, hard cubes for a crisp shake
Garnish: slender lemon-peel twist (optional sugared rim)
Sour||
Sidecar Cocktail Recipe
(“The Rémy Sidecar”)
Complex and extremely well-balanced, the Sidecar is deemed to have been created in 1921, with the Ritz Paris later making a deluxe version in 1923. This is an iconic cognac cocktail with an enchanting story. It is said to have been named after a motorcycle sidecar owned by a gentleman in Paris, it was then later popularised in London – truly a tale of two cities.
5 MIN medium CoupetteINGREDIENTS
1 oz Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cognac
⅔ oz Cointreau (orange liqueur)
⅓ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice: clear, hard cubes for a crisp shake
Garnish: slender lemon-peel twist (optional sugared rim)
3 cl Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cognac
2 cl Cointreau (orange liqueur)
1 cl freshly squeezed lemon juice
Ice: clear, hard cubes for a crisp shake
Garnish: slender lemon-peel twist (optional sugared rim)
HOW TO MAKE
THE RÉMY SIDECAR
HOW TO MAKE
THE RÉMY SIDECAR
- Fill a shaker with ice and pour in 1 oz Rémy Martin 1738, ⅔ oz Cointreau and ⅓ oz lemon juice.
- Shake hard for 10–12 seconds until the tin is frosted – aeration brightens the citrus and unlocks the cognac’s plum-and-fig notes.
- Double-strain through a Hawthorne and fine strainer into a chilled coupette to ensure silken texture.
- Garnish with a fresh lemon twist (or rim the glass with superfine sugar for extra sweetness).
- Serve immediately and enjoy a perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour sip.
Discover more cocktails
Learn more about The RÉMY SIDECAR
A classic brandy cocktail built on cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice, the Sidecar holds IBA “Unforgettables” status. Expect a sweet-and-sour equilibrium, orange-blossom aroma and a silky Fine Champagne finish that lingers long after the final sip.
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Hawthorne strainer
- Fine strainer
- Chilled coupette or martini glass
Pro Tips
- Use fresh-squeezed lemon juice for vivid acidity.
- Choose a high-quality cognac like Rémy Martin 1738 for depth and roundness.
- Hard shaking with large, clear ice cubes delivers fine aeration and a velvet mouthfeel
Core Trio: Rémy Martin 1738 · Cointreau · Lemon juice
Optional Sweetener: Classic sugar-rim or ¼ oz simple syrup for gentler edges.
Garnish: Lemon or orange twist; experiment with a light sugared rim for texture.
| School | Cognac | Cointreau | Lemon | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French | 2 parts | 1 part | 1 part | Rich, drier, oak-forward |
| English | 1 part | 1 part | 1 part | Lively, tart, equal-parts* |
*Taste-test both: the 2-1-1 leans round and warming; equal parts skews brighter. Adjust sweetness by adding or omitting a sugared rim.
Born in the WWI/Prohibition crossroads of Paris and London (circa 1921), the Sidecar appears in early bar manuals by Harry MacElhone and Robert Vermeire. Legend credits a Parisian officer who rode to Harry’s New York Bar in a motorcycle sidecar; others point to London’s Buck’s Club. Either way, its popularity soared through the Roaring Twenties, cementing its place in cocktail lore.
Paris: Bar Hemingway at the Ritz · Harry’s New York Bar
London: The American Bar at The Savoy · Dukes Bar
Worldwide: Seek venues that juice citrus to order, stock Fine Champagne cognac and respect classic specs.
Why Choose Rémy Martin 1738 for Your Sidecar
Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal layers plum, fig jam and toasted toffee aromatics over a luxuriously round, creamy palate – flavours that weave seamlessly with Cointreau’s orange zest and lemon’s bright acidity, elevating the Sidecar beyond ordinary brandy versions.
- Mouthfeel: Exceptionally smooth, with a concentrated nutty finish that keeps the cocktail poised, never cloying.
- Heritage: A Cognac Fine Champagne blend drawn from Grande & Petite Champagne crus.
- Upgrade Path: Try Rémy Martin XO for opulent dried-fruit richness, or VSOP for a lighter, orchard-fruit twist.
Classic Cocktail Comparisons & Variations
White Lady: Swap cognac for gin; keeps the Cointreau–lemon duo.
Margarita: Tequila plus lime and triple sec echo the Sidecar’s sweet-sour DNA.
Brandy Crusta: An 1850s ancestor featuring cognac, curaçao and bitters in a sugared-rim glass.
Sidecar Royale: Top the classic with a splash of Champagne for celebratory sparkle.
FAQ & Troubleshooting
| Question | Quick Fix |
|---|---|
| “My Sidecar tastes too sour.” | Add ¼ oz simple syrup or use a sugared rim to soften acidity. |
| “Can I use brandy instead of cognac?” | Yes, but a Fine-Champagne cognac like Rémy Martin 1738 adds depth and elegance. |
| “How do I make the sugar rim stick?” | Swipe a lemon wedge around the rim, dip in superfine sugar, and let set 30 seconds before pouring. |
Serving Moments & Food Pairings
Enjoy the Rémy Sidecar as a pre-dinner aperitif, a celebratory toast, or a late-summer afternoon refresher. Pairings to try:
Foie gras torchon – the cocktail’s citrus cuts through the richness.
Citrus pavlova – echoes the lemon notes while highlighting orange blossom aromas.
Almond financiers – nutty sweetness harmonises with 1738’s toffee-spice core.
Raise your coupette, savour the balanced dance of sweet and sour, and let Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal carry this iconic cocktail into its next century of sophisticated sipping.
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