A sidecar is a classic cocktail made with cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice). It is a sour cocktail, similar to a daiquiri, but often drier and more challenging to balance due to the variable sweetness of the liqueurs used). The drink is traditionally served straight up in a chilled cocktail glass, sometimes with a sugared rim).

The exact origin of the sidecar is unclear, but it is thought to have been invented around the end of World War I in either London or Paris). The drink was directly named for the motorcycle attachment, which was very commonly used at the time). The Ritz Hotel in Paris claims origin of the drink). The first recipes for the sidecar appear in 1922, in Harry MacElhones Harrys ABC of Mixing Cocktails and Robert Vermeires Cocktails and How to Mix Them).

The recipe for a sidecar typically calls for two parts cognac, one part orange liqueur (such as Cointreau, Grand Marnier, dry curaçao, or a triple sec), and one part lemon juice). However, the ratios have varied over time, and some bartenders may adjust the recipe to taste. The drink is shaken with ice and strained into a chilled cocktail glass).

Overall, the sidecar is a classic cocktail with a long history and a sophisticated flavor profile.