The Sidecar

A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle,[1] producing a three-wheeled vehicle. A motorcycle with a sidecar is sometimes called a combination, an outfit, a rig or a hack.

The Sidecar is a classic cocktail traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier or another triple sec), and lemon juice.

I have no interest in the first Sidecar, but boy do I like the drink.  I can remember having my first Sidecar in Winona, Minnesota - not the home of fine cognacs or Grand Marnier - but it only takes one person to change your life.  In my case it was Jack Lucas, my neighbor, who along with his wife Pat took a great interest in introducing me to things that they thought I should know about.  In the winter Jack would make the Sidecar the proper way:

Ingredients

•    3/4 ounce Cointreau

•    3/4 ounce lemon juice

•    1 1/2 ounces cognac

Glass Type: cocktail glass

Instructions

Shake well with cracked ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass that has had its outside rim rubbed with lemon juice and dipped in sugar.

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However. in the summer he would take one can of frozen lemonade and dump it into a blender. Then he would fill the empty can with bourbon and dump that into the blender, and repeat with another can of bourbon. He would then fill the can halfway with Cointreau and blend away.  Once it was a slushy vision of delight, he would pour the drink into frozen wine glasses and the toasts would begin.

I didn’t have many Sidecars during my time in Winona but remembered them with great joy. It wasn’t until many years later when we were living in Europe and met friends in Paris for a formal New Year’s Eve that the Sidecar came back into my life.  Perhaps it was because the Sidecar was supposed to have been invented in Paris that the idea came into my head to have one. Perhaps it was the fact that the six of us had already had several bottles of Champagne, caviar, and some copious quantities of wine while we waited for our table to be ready at 11pm – but whatever the reason, the moment we sat down at our table, we all agreed that Sidecars would be a marvelous idea.  So there we sat, the men in tuxes, the ladies dressed to kill, and the six of us in Paris. The drinks arrived, and were prepared perfectly.  I raised my glass and toasted to Jack and Pat Lucas for all they had done to educate me in Winona!

Enjoy the weekend, we are!  Cindy and Wm

Our Sidecars yesterday at The Hour.