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This Hennessy Sidecar recipe is the best way to use this popular cognac! Blend it with Cointreau and lemon for the perfectly sour classic cocktail.
One of my favorite uses for cognac in a mixed drink is the Hennessy Sidecar. This recipe pairs cognac with orange liqueur, lemon, and a superfine sugar rim for classic cocktail perfection.
There’s nothing classier, and each sip is sweet, tart, and balanced. I bet it’ll quickly become your favorite use for your bottle of cognac, too!
What you’ll need
The Sidecar is a classic cocktail invented in 1918. The most common origin story is that it was named after an American army captain stationed in Paris during World War I who rode around in a motorcycle sidecar. The iconic Harry’s New York Bar in Paris takes credit for the invention of the drink.
To make a Hennessy Sidecar, simply use Hennessy as the cognac. Here’s exactly what you’ll need:
- 2 oz Hennessy Cognac
- 1 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau, triple sec, or Grand Marnier)
- 1 oz lemon juice
- Superfine or granulated sugar, for the rim
All about Hennessy
Hennessy is a type of cognac, a brandy made in Cognac, France. The Hennessy company was founded over 250 years ago in 1765 in France. Today it produces 40% of the world’s cognac, making it the largest producer of the spirit worldwide.
Compared to other brands of cognac, Hennessy has a bold flavor, with notes of nuttiness, fruit, oak, vanilla and spices. It’s very complex, and it makes for a mixed drink with nuanced layers of flavor.
Choosing your orange liqueur
You can use any type of orange liqueur in this Hennessy Sidecar recipe. The nuanced notes of the cognac and tequila reposado pair best with Cointreau or Grand Marnier, but you can make the drink with triple sec, too. Here are the differences:
- Cointreau is best in a Hennessy Sidecar. It’s my favorite in a Sidecar and a margarita. It has a smooth flavor with warm spices and nuance that works with the sophistication of Hennessy.
- Grand Marnier is great but expensive. Grand Marnier is a top-shelf orange liqueur. It tastes like orange-flavored brandy, with notes of vanilla and oak. It has a heavier, more complex flavor than other orange liqueurs, like triple sec and Cointreau.
- Triple sec has a crisp, citrus-forward flavor. It works well in drinks, but it’s easy to find low-quality versions. Look for a quality triple sec brand, not the cheapest on the block. I like Drillauds.
Tips for garnishing
A Sidecar is very easy to make. Simply shake the ingredients together in a cocktail shaker and strain into the prepared glass.
The sugar rim is not part of the “official” definition of a Sidecar cocktail, but it’s often traditionally served with it. The sugar rim helps to offset the tartness in sour cocktails, like the classic Lemon Drop Martini. Here are a few extra tips for a Hennessy Sidecar:
- Rim the glass with superfine sugar. A sugar rim is optional, but it’s the classic presentation for a Sidecar cocktail, and it accentuates the sweet-tart flavor. Superfine sugar is easiest as it adheres to the glass best.
- Strain into a glass and serve with a citrus twist. Strain the drink into a cocktail glass. Serve with a lemon twist or slice. Some people like to squeeze an orange twist into the drink so the oils add a perfume.
Hennessy Sidecar
This Hennessy Sidecar recipe is the best way to use this popular cognac! Blend it with Cointreau and lemon for the perfectly sour classic cocktail.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Hennessy
- 1 ounce Cointreau
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- For the garnish: lemon twist or orange twist
- Superfine sugar rim, optional
Instructions
- Cut a notch in a lemon wedge, then run the lemon around the rim of a cocktail glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of superfine sugar.
- Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice and shake until cold.
- Strain the drink into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or orange twist.
Notes
Superfine sugar works well for a sugar rim since it sticks to the glass better than granulated sugar. You can use granulated sugar if it’s all you have, but it can fall off into the drink, making it taste a shade sweeter.
More Hennessy cocktails
If you haven’t made a Hennessy Sidecar, it’s a must! After that, there are a few more must-make Hennessy cocktails to try:
- Go for another classic sour, the Hennessy Margarita.
- Try the sophisticated and boozy Hennessy Sazerac.
- Add creme de menthe and make it a Stinger.
- Go super simple with Hennessy and Coke.
- Add amaretto for a French Connection.
Let us know if you have any questions!