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Hennessy Sidecar Recipe

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A classic sidecar cocktail is a joy to drink. I make my Hennessy Sidecar Recipe using a good quality Hennessy cognac and mix it with Cointreau and fresh lemon juice. The result is a rich, sweet, slightly tart cocktail with your taste buds dancing. This post is meant for an audience 21 and over.

coupe glass filled with Hennessy sidecar cocktail and garnished with a strip of orange peel


 

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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the 
recipe card at the bottom of the post. 
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.

Cognac is a style of brandy that is produced in the Cognac region of France. Hennessy produce some of the best cognacs, which work beautifully in a classic sidecar cocktail.

I first enjoyed this cocktail at a bar in Washington D.C., but I’m a huge fan of making cocktails at home, so I had to learn how to make it.

This Hennessy sidecar cocktail recipe is the perfect example of cocktail simplicity. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker over ice, give it a shake, and strain into your glass of choice. In a matter of minutes, you have the perfect cocktail serving for one.

However with this easy sidecar cocktail recipe feel free to double up the recipe, or even make it in a pitcher if you are serving a larger crowd of friends.

If you enjoy a cocktail when the sun is out, try my Peach Cobbler Cocktail, Bourbon Martini, Classic Margarita, Paloma Cocktail, Jamaican Rum Punch, Fruity Martini, or Jamaican Guinness Punch recipes.

Sidecar Cocktail Ingredients

Here’s what you will need to make a Classic Hennessy Sidecar cocktail:

  • Brandy – when it comes to making the best Sidecar Cocktail, I use Hennessy Cognac or a similar high-quality cognac.
  • Orange Liqueur – I use Cointreau, but you can also use Grand Marnier or any other orange liqueur.
  • Lemon – we use fresh lemon juice, but you can use lemon juice concentrate.
  • Ice – you will need ice for shaking the cocktails in the cocktail shaker.
  • Sugar – you can sugarcoat the rim of the glass; this is optional.
  • Garnish – use an orange or lemon twist for garnish; this is optional.
Hennessy sidecar cocktail ingredients

How to make my Hennessy Sidecar Recipe

Optional: Prepare your coupe or martini glass by moistening the rim with a lemon wedge and then dipping it into a shallow plate of sugar to create a sugar rim.

Combine the Hennessy cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.

Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to ensure the ingredients are well chilled and mixed.

Strain the cocktail into a prepared coupe or martini glass.

coupe glass filled with Hennessy sidecar cocktail being poured from a cocktail shaker and garnished with a strip of orange peel
  • Garnish with a twist of orange or lemon, if desired.
whole orange on a green board with an orange peeling and some strips of orange peel

Expert Tips

These tips will help you make the best Sidecar recipe you’ve ever tried. 

  • If you don’t have a shaker, you can simply combine all of the ingredients in a glass filled with ice and stir until well combined.
  • This cocktail is best served immediately, but it can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, add the ice and stir well.
  • Don’t add the ice cubes until you are ready to serve; otherwise, you risk them melting and diluting the cocktail.
  • Serving more people, no problem. Increase the recipe and prepare in a large jug rather than a cocktail shaker.
two coupe glasses filled with Hennessy sidecar cocktail with bottle of Hennessy brandy in the background

Flavor variations

  • The ratio of ingredients in a Sidecar can vary depending on personal preference, but a common recipe is 2 parts cognac, 1 part orange liqueur, and 1 part lemon juice. The cocktail is traditionally served in a sugar-rimmed glass and garnished with a twist of lemon.
  • For the orange liqueur, I use Cointreau, but you can use Grand Marnier or any other orange liqueur.
  • In this recipe, we use fresh lemon juice, but feel free to use lemon juice concentrate. If using lemon juice concentrate, increase to 1 ounce. 
two coupe glasses filled with Hennessy sidecar cocktail

FAQs

What does a sidecar cocktail taste like?

This cocktail has a good kick of cognac, with the orange liqueur adding both sweet and bitter notes, then the lemon juice adds just the right amount of tartness to balance the cocktail. If you prefer a little sweeter cocktail, add a little more orange liqueur.

Is triple sec the same as Cointreau?

Cointreau is a triple sec. It is a good quality orange liqueur with a great orange flavor. Triple secs vary in quality and strength. Cointreau has a lovely smooth flavor of sweet oranges, which works flawlessly in this sidecar cocktail recipe.

If you have tried this Hennessy Sidecar recipe or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!

coupe glass filled with Hennessy sidecar cocktail and garnished with a strip of orange peel
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5 from 2 votes

Hennessy Sidecar Recipe

A classic sidecar cocktail is a joy to drink. I make my Hennessy Sidecar Recipe using a good quality Hennessy cognac, and mix it with Cointreau and fresh lemon juice. The result is a rich, sweet, and slightly tart cocktail that will have your taste buds dancing.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword brandy cocktail, hennessy brandy, hennessy sidecar, sidecar cocktail
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 222kcal
Author Tanya

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Hennessy Cognac or other high quality cognac
  • 1 oz orange liqueur such as Cointreau or Grand Marnier
  • 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
  • ice for shaking cocktails
  • sugar for coating rim of glass, optional
  • orange or lemon twist for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Optional: Prepare your coupe or martini glass by moistening the rim with a lemon wedge and then dipping it into a shallow plate of sugar to create a sugar rim.
  • In a cocktail shaker, combine the Hennessy cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice.
  • Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds to ensure the ingredients are well chilled and mixed.
  • Strain the cocktail into a prepared coupe or martini glass.
  • Garnish with a twist of orange or lemon, if desired.

Notes

  • The ratio of ingredients in a Sidecar can vary depending on personal preference, but a common recipe is 2 parts cognac, 1 part orange liqueur, and 1 part lemon juice. The cocktail is traditionally served in a sugar-rimmed glass and garnished with a twist of lemon.
  • We us fresh lemon juice in this recipe, but feel free to use lemon juice concentrate. If using lemon juice concentrate, increase to 1 ounce.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 29mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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Although myforkinglife.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Under no circumstances will myforkinglife.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.

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