Bourbon Sidecar Cocktail
Our Bourbon Sidecar Cocktail recipe is a twist on the traditional sidecar, which is usually made with Cognac or Brandy. This delicious sweet and sour libation has a bright lemony flavor, which pairs beautifully with Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey.
Even if you are not a fan of bourbon, give this one a try. This cocktail is so delightful, that it might even change your opinion! It’s quite simple to make and can be made in advance, which makes it a great cocktail for entertaining. Interested in reading more about the story behind this cocktail? Take a look at our Blogs Comments & Tips below to learn a few tricks to making this cocktail multiple ways.
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RECIPE
(Check out our Step by Step Instructions below the recipe card.)
Recipe updated as of 3/25/22
BOURBON SIDECAR COCKTAIL
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place ultrafine sugar on a small plate. Rub the rim of a chilled martini glass with a lemon wedge (or lemon juice) and then dip the wet rim into the sugar and tap the glass to shake off any excess sugar.
- With the center blade of a Zyliss 2 in 1 zester, peel off 1 long strip from the peel of a lemon, as a garnish. Then with a reamer or a juicer, squeeze juice from the same lemon.
- Squeeze fresh orange juice (or use equal amount of Cointreau instead).
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Add bourbon, lemon juice, orange juice (or Cointreau), and agave nectar to the shaker. Cover and shake vigorously.
- Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon spiral. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use classic size martini glasses (about 5 oz. glasses) for this cocktail. Chill your martini glasses in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Sugar-coated rim and lemon twist garnishes are optional, but they make all the difference in making this cocktail very festive.
- To make this lovely spiral, grab each end of the strip of orange peel and directly over your cocktail, twist the peel in opposite directions, like you are twisting off a candy wrapper. If you don't have a Zyliss 2 in 1 zester, check out the video on our Tips & Tricks page for Tip #14 - How to Make a Citrus Twist (without any special tools)!
- Making Cocktails for a Crowd? This cocktail can be made ahead for any number of people. Just pre-mix your ingredients and add to a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready, just stir well and pour enough for 1 to 2 cocktails at a time into an ice filled shaker, shake vigorously, and pour into chilled martini glasses.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
181.64Fat (grams)
0.18Sat. Fat (grams)
0.02Carbs (grams)
13.79Fiber (grams)
0.18Net carbs
13.61Sugar (grams)
10.65Protein (grams)
0.22Sodium (milligrams)
1.57Cholesterol (grams)
0.00Nutritional information provided is strictly an estimate and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods.
Step by Step Instructions
PREPARATION
Organize all your tools and ingredients before you begin. Getting all your ingredients in one place at the beginning will shorten your prep time.
NOTE: Traditional Sidecar recipes use Cointreau to add the orange flavor to the drink. Although we recommend using fresh squeezed orange juice in our recipe for a clean and fresh tasting sidecar, you can certainly use Cointreau.
STEP 1
To make a sugar-coated rim, place 1 tablespoon superfine sugar on a small plate. Rub the rim of a chilled martini glass with a lemon wedge (or lemon juice) and then dip the wet rim into the sugar and tap the glass to shake off any excess sugar.
Note: This is an optional step. Even if you decide not to sugar the rim, chill your martini glass (see #1 in Notes section).
STEP 2
With the center blade of a 2 in 1 Zester (see Note below), peel off 1 long strip from the peel of a lemon, as a garnish.
Then with a reamer or a juicer, squeeze 1 ½ ounces of juice from the same lemon.
Note: If you don't have a Zyliss 2 in 1 zester, check out the video on our Tips & Tricks page for Tip #14 - How to Make a Citrus Twist (without any special tools)!
STEP 3
Squeeze ½ tablespoon fresh orange juice.
Note: The orange juice provides a little natural sweetness and replaces the need for Cointreau. If you prefer to use more traditional ingredients, replace orange juice with ½ tablespoon of Cointreau liquer.
STEP 4
a) Add ½ cup ice cubes to a cocktail shaker.
b) Add 2 ounces bourbon, 1 ½ ounces fresh lemon juice, ½ tablespoon fresh orange juice (or Cointreau), and 2 teaspoons agave nectar to the shaker.
c) Cover and shake vigorously.
STEP 5a
Strain into your chilled martini glass .
STEP 5b
Garnish with a lemon spiral and enjoy!
Note: To make this lovely spiral, grab both ends of the strip of the lemon peel and directly over your cocktail, twist the peel in opposite directions, like you are twisting off a candy wrapper.
Notes:
Use classic size martini glasses (about 5 oz. glasses) for this cocktail. Chill your martini glasses in the fridge for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Sugar-coated rim and lemon twist garnishes are optional, but they make all the difference in making this cocktail very festive.
Making Cocktails for a Crowd? This cocktail can be made ahead for any number of people. Just pre-mix your ingredients and add to a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready, just stir well and pour enough for 1 to 2 cocktails at a time into an ice filled shaker, shake vigorously, and pour into chilled martini glasses.
How To Video
BOURBON SIDECAR COCKTAIL - This will likely become your favorite cocktail!
Blog Comments & Tips
This is one of our favorite cocktails ever!
A few years ago, we were dining at a favorite small town restaurant of ours and decided to order one of their signature cocktails. It was a bourbon sidecar.
A traditional sidecar cocktail is made with Cognac or Brandy, so using Bourbon was an interesting twist. Admittedly, I had never had a sidecar, but the server highly recommended it. My husband and I are not huge fans of bourbon whiskey (we tend to lean towards vodka and tequila cocktails), but we gave the cocktail a try and we loved it! Well, let me say that things have definitely changed since that day! Our palates and minds are now open to all things bourbon.
Before the pandemic, we dined out quite often and we would “test” the skill of mixologists at various restaurants to see if they could come close to our small town favorite’s version of the bourbon sidecar. None have quite measured up to the Wistaria Restaurant and Bar version of this tangy, sweet and sour, lemony libation. The secret in their cocktail is their closely guarded recipe for their house syrup.
This cocktail has become a favorite drink of ours and we have been trying to perfect it for years. We think we have come close and hope you will enjoy the Pimp My Recipe Test Kitchens’ version of the Bourbon Sidecar Cocktail.
Although it looks sweet and innocent with that sugar-coated rim, it’s got a serious kick! Our recipe is quite strong, but has a wonderful balance of sweet and sour, that combines beautifully with the fermented sweetness of the mash of grain, yeast, and water that makes bourbon unique. We recommend trying our fresh take on this cocktail, which replaces the Cointreau with a little fresh squeezed orange juice and agave. It smooths out the sharpness in this cocktail and gives it a fresh finish.
Our 5 tips to making a great Bourbon Sidecar Cocktail:
Great quality ingredients. Best quality bourbon whiskey you can find and super fresh lemons and oranges (if available, try using Meyer lemons for a slightly sweeter flavor).
Using agave nectar instead of adding simple syrup or more Cointreau. It’s better for you and agave adds a warmth to this cocktail.
Shake vigorously and shake again! Although shaking will water down your cocktail a bit, the extra shaking will make it frosty and even more enticing.
Make it pretty and visually appealing by adding a lemon twist and sugar-coated rim. The sugar rim takes less than one minute and can be done ahead of time, then just chill the glasses until you are ready to serve. Wait to do the lemon twist until you are ready to serve, so it doesn’t dry out.
Make it ahead. Even if you are making a special dinner for two, make it in advance and refrigerate in a covered pitcher or large measuring cup. When ready to use, shake, pour, and add a twist of lemon peel, and serve!
If you are a traditionalist, by all means, replace the orange juice with Cointreau. The traditional sidecar uses a greater quality of Cointreau liqueur, which changes the flavor a bit and even gives it a bitter note. Our cocktail recipe reduces the orange flavor (or liqueur) ratio to make the bourbon and lemon flavors shine. Whichever way you make it, we think you will enjoy it.
Let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating, and/or following, and liking us on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Don’t forget to subscribe to get updates on new recipes and tips & tricks.
Santé!
Mich
Footnote: Remember to chill your martini glasses for at least 15 minutes before serving this delicious cocktail.
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