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Bourbon Sidecar Cocktail Drink

Bourbon Sidecar Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Fall calls for this uncomplicated Bourbon Sidecar recipe! The cocktail blends bourbon, lemon juice, and triple sec to perfection.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 223

Ingredients
 

  • 2 oz Bourbon
  • 1 oz Cointreau
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon twist - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Cocktail Strainer
  • Fine strainer
  • Coupe Glass
  • Measuring Jigger

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Fill a coupe glass with ice. Set it aside.
  • Add Lemon Juice: Pour ¾ oz fresh lemon juice into the shaker.
  • Add Cointreau: Add 1 oz Cointreau.
  • Add Bourbon: Finally, add 2 oz Bourbon to the mix.
  • Rim Glass: Discard the ice inside the coupe glass and prepare the sugar rim. To do so, use a lemon slice to slightly wet the rim of the glass. Then, delicately press the edge of the glass into a plate filled with sugar.
  • Shake Well: Fill the shaker with ice, close it, and give it a good shake (10-15 seconds).
  • Strain: Using both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer, strain the mixture into the coupe glass.
  • Garnish: Express a lemon zest on top of the drink to release its oils and drop in the glass or discard it. Serve immediately.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Bourbon: If you don't have bourbon on hand, you can substitute rye whiskey or brandy. Both will give a different flavor profile but still make for a delicious drink.
  • Cointreau: Triple sec is a good alternative if you don't have Cointreau. It's slightly less sweet and has a more pronounced orange flavor.
  • Lemon Juice: I've used lime juice instead of lemon juice in a pinch. It changes the taste slightly but still works well.

Making a Pitcher of Bourbon Sidecar:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of bourbon, 8 oz of Cointreau, and 6 oz of lemon juice.
  • Mix: Combine the bourbon, Cointreau, and lemon juice in a large pitcher with ice and stir well.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into chilled coupe glasses, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Bourbon Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic bourbon substitute; several on the market do an excellent job mimicking bourbon flavor.
  • Cointreau Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic orange liqueur or a simple syrup infused with orange peel.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.

Making it Vegan:

The Bourbon Sidecar is naturally vegan as it contains no animal products. However, always check your label as some spirits and liqueurs may use animal-derived products during production.