The Bourbon Sidecar is bright and elegant, a twist on the classic tart cocktail that substitutes bourbon for brandy. Forward citrus with a spicy whiskey finish!
You love sparkling cocktails but want to paint your whiskey sour? try that Bourbon sidecar! The sidecar is one of the most classic sparkling cocktails. Replace cognac with bourbon and you have a whole new drink! This trades the fruitiness of brandy for the spicy and sweet finish of bourbon. Alex and I are big whiskey sour fans, but we love alternating it with the sidecar: it’s even more refreshing and lemony than its cocktail cousin. That’s how it’s done!
What’s in a Bourbon Sidecar?
Sidecar Bourbon is a twist on the classic sidecar, one of the great sour cocktails. It was invented in the 1920s, and the name likely comes from a US Army captain who rode around in a motorcycle sidecar. Sidecar is on the International Bartender Association’s official IBA cocktail list, meaning there is an “official” definition of sidecar. Substitute the brandy and you have the bourbon version! Here are the ingredients for a sidecar bourbon:
- Bourbon whiskey
- Cointreau
- lemon juice
How to Make Sidecar Bourbon (Basic Steps)
The bourbon sidecar is very easy to make: even easier than a classic because it skips the sugar rim! Here are the basic steps:
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. Shake the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice cubes.
- Pour into a glass and add ice. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Serve with a slice or zest of lemon, if you like! (Here’s how to make a twist.)
Triple sec against Cointreau
Triple Sec is often the orange liqueur used in a sidecar. However, we recommend using Cointreau! Cointreau has an orange perfume flavor that’s balanced between bitter and sweet, while Triple Sec can be harsher.
What is Cointreau used for? So many great cocktails! Grab a bottle and you can create a long list of Cointreau drinks: the classic margarita (and our best margarita recipes), cosmopolitan, mimosa, and more.
Add rum and make one between the leaves
Add rum to the bourbon sidecar and it becomes a classic cocktail called Between the Sheets! A twist on the classic sidecar that packs rum and brandy: something that was considered a little awkward in Prohibition days. Rum brings nuance to this citrus drink. Between the leaves, a classic cocktail that’s one of the International Bartender Association’s official IBA cocktails: so this variation is a classic in its own right!
Sidecar Bourbon-Infused Drinks
It turns out there are many drinks that are variations on a theme! citrus fruits
- Classic Sidecar Cocktail The classic with brandy, lemon and Cointreau and a sugar rim. It’s perfectly balanced.
- Vodka Sidecar This version is tangy and tangy, with vodka, lemon and Cointreau.
- White Lady The White Lady is essentially a sidecar gin! It contains gin, lemon and cointreau.
- Classic Margarita A sidecar tequila with lime instead of lemon…wait, that’s a margarita!
- Best Whiskey Sour This classic features whiskey, lemon and simple syrup (rather than Cointreau).
When to serve sidecar bourbon
The Bourbon Sidecar is a chic and refreshing cocktail that works anytime, anywhere! It’s perfect for sipping as:
- Summer drink on the terrace
- Happy hour drink
- Drink at dinner
- Drinks late into the night
- Evening drink between boys or between girls
- Aperitif at aperitif time
The description
The Bourbon Sidecar is bright and elegant, a twist on the classic tart cocktail that substitutes bourbon for brandy. Forward citrus with a spicy whiskey finish!
- 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) bourbon whiskey*
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Cointreau
- ½ ounce (1 tbsp) lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup
- For garnish: lemon zest or lemon zest
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with a handful of ice and shake until cool.
- Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon zest or orange zest.
Remarks
*Or use 1 ounce rum and 1 ounce bourbon to make the classic Between the Sheets cocktail.
- Category: drink
- Method: Shocked
- Kitchen: cocktails
- Diet: vegan
Keywords: Bourbon sidecar
Sour cocktails
Acid cocktails are a family of cocktails based on alcohol, acid, and sugar elements. There are all sorts of variations of a good Sauer. Here are some of our favourites:
