If there’s anything that’s been consistent on this site over its nearly 20 years of passing (babbling?) hypertext to the servers and back to you, it’s that I’m very bossy when I try something new, especially cocktails. When I fell in love with Porch Swings, I wanted you to too. Ditto for blood orange margaritas (but only in season), a Perfect Manhattan era that lasted over a decade, Boulevardier that has been woven almost every year since, and a Slushy Paper Plane phase last year. Just last winter and spring, it was Sidecars, 1920s cocktails with about as many conflicting stories as the ones my kids regale us with when they’re not doing their homework.
In the one I find most amusing, a U.S. Army captain in World War I Paris is apparently heading to a bar in a motorcycle sidecar. I have many questions, including: Who was the driver? — and became a regular at the Ritz Paris Hotel or possibly Harry’s New York Bar, depending on who’s telling the story. The captain would order a mix of brandy, orange liqueur and lemon juice and eventually the bartenders would name the drink after his particular vehicular quirk.
In other origin stories, bartenders serve the drink with a little leftover from the shaker poured into a second glass…which they call the sidecar. Again, this may be true, but I’m skeptical, albeit perplexed. I’m much more interested in how it tastes. I’ve seen it called the French cousin of a margarita, and honestly, I get it: It’s strong (from cognac), bright (from lemon), and slightly sweet (from orange liqueur) but balanced, as daisy drinks often are. Usually the sidecar is served with a sweet rim which I find completely unnecessary for the taste (it’s quite sweet), but I can’t resist the way the raw sugar gives it a golden sheen and included it here. We all need a little extra sparkle sometimes, don’t we?
PS My cookbooks are for sale through the wonderful, independent Porchlight Books and if you order one, two or three, they will include a Mother’s Day card signed by me (and sometimes my 10 year old). Order before Monday 04/27 to receive the gift(s) in time for 05/10. [Smitten Kitchen Cookbook Sale]
