Comments on: The Sidecar http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Easy on the Nose, Not the Wallet - The Pour Blog - NYTimes.com http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-188849 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:34:14 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-188849 [...] Most of these Cognacs are not meant to be sniffed and savored. They’re intended for mixing, with Coca-Cola and other additions. There’s nothing wrong with using Cognac in cocktails. I love a good sidecar. But basically if your Cognac is bound to end up in an embrace with Coca-Cola, you might as well dumb it down. You wouldn’t pour the good tequila into the frozen margarita machine, would you? [...] […] Most of these Cognacs are not meant to be sniffed and savored. They’re intended for mixing, with Coca-Cola and other additions. There’s nothing wrong with using Cognac in cocktails. I love a good sidecar. But basically if your Cognac is bound to end up in an embrace with Coca-Cola, you might as well dumb it down. You wouldn’t pour the good tequila into the frozen margarita machine, would you? […]

]]> by: The Spirit World - » BrandyThe Spirit World -Part of the Well Fed Network http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-2550 Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:14:36 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-2550 [...] One of the more popular cocktails that uses brandy is the “Sidecar”, which is made from just brandy, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Brandy is also popular to drink after dinner all by itself. You will usually want to tend towards the higher end brandies for sipping. [...] […] One of the more popular cocktails that uses brandy is the “Sidecar”, which is made from just brandy, Cointreau, and lemon juice. Brandy is also popular to drink after dinner all by itself. You will usually want to tend towards the higher end brandies for sipping. […]

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-216 Sun, 22 Jan 2006 11:45:35 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-216 D,<br /> Yes, if you are wanting to increase the lemon juice content, then adding a sugared rim can help balance... and likewise if you want the sugared rim, then adding a little more lemon juice will again help with the balance.<br /> <br /> ...but I still don't like getting my fingers sticky... :-><br /> <br /> As I mentioned, this drink did not originally have a sugared rim, we aren't sure exactly when, or why, that came into common practice, but I expect that it has to do with the simularity between the Sidecar and the Brandy Crusta. A "Crusta" is an old drink category just as the "Cocktail" is a drink category. With the Crusta not only having a sugared rim, but also a long thick spiral of orange or lemon peel in it, which had also been dipped in sugar. D,
Yes, if you are wanting to increase the lemon juice content, then adding a sugared rim can help balance… and likewise if you want the sugared rim, then adding a little more lemon juice will again help with the balance.

…but I still don’t like getting my fingers sticky… :->

As I mentioned, this drink did not originally have a sugared rim, we aren’t sure exactly when, or why, that came into common practice, but I expect that it has to do with the simularity between the Sidecar and the Brandy Crusta. A “Crusta” is an old drink category just as the “Cocktail” is a drink category. With the Crusta not only having a sugared rim, but also a long thick spiral of orange or lemon peel in it, which had also been dipped in sugar.

]]> by: d http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-215 Sun, 22 Jan 2006 11:38:09 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-215 2 parts armagnac, one part cointreau, one part freshly squeezed lemon. That's why you need the sugar round the rim, to balance the tartness. 2 parts armagnac, one part cointreau, one part freshly squeezed lemon. That’s why you need the sugar round the rim, to balance the tartness.

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-214 Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:19:53 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-214 The importance of using fresh juices cant be over emphasized enough. Im glad you took the time to try some experimentations on this and see this first hand. The importance of using fresh juices cant be over emphasized enough. Im glad you took the time to try some experimentations on this and see this first hand.

]]> by: Rob the fan http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-213 Mon, 02 Jan 2006 09:32:32 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-213 I tried this over New Years. I made the first one with the lemon juice that comes in those plastic lemons. HORRIBLE!! And who'd have thought that 'made from concentrate' would contain so much pulp as to make the drink cloudy.<br /> <br /> The drink had way to much bite and was as bitter as can be. I think the fake lemon juice combined with the Cointreau to produce this incredibly sharp bitterness that was on the verge of a gag reflex.<br /> <br /> I made the next ones with fresh lemon juice and they were much much better. Much smoother and drinkable.<br /> <br /> I can't say this one will make my favorite cocktail list, but I will definately file it under my 'change of pace' list when I'm in the mood for something different. I tried this over New Years. I made the first one with the lemon juice that comes in those plastic lemons. HORRIBLE!! And who’d have thought that ‘made from concentrate’ would contain so much pulp as to make the drink cloudy.

The drink had way to much bite and was as bitter as can be. I think the fake lemon juice combined with the Cointreau to produce this incredibly sharp bitterness that was on the verge of a gag reflex.

I made the next ones with fresh lemon juice and they were much much better. Much smoother and drinkable.

I can’t say this one will make my favorite cocktail list, but I will definately file it under my ‘change of pace’ list when I’m in the mood for something different.

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-212 Wed, 28 Dec 2005 13:09:39 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-212 Too bad he only listed the "equal parts" recipe, which he even states is the wrong in the writeup. Too bad he only listed the “equal parts” recipe, which he even states is the wrong in the writeup.

]]> by: Brenda Pederson http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-211 Tue, 27 Dec 2005 08:15:35 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-211 On another note, I see that your experimentation on the perfect Sidecar proportions with Dale and Ted was covered recently on Epicurious! <br /> <br /> http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/drink_views/views/233319 On another note, I see that your experimentation on the perfect Sidecar proportions with Dale and Ted was covered recently on Epicurious!

http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/drink_views/views/233319

]]> by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-210 Mon, 26 Dec 2005 08:34:52 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-210 Sidecar Origin... there are several different stories that revolve around the motorcycle sidecar story, pointing at different bars as being where this occured, and who was in the motorcycle. So it's possible that this is how the drink got it's name, but it is also possible that since it is such an "obvious" story, that somebody made it up in an effort to answer the question.<br /> <br /> I have yet to see a definative account as to exactly where, when, and through what mechanism it got its name. Sidecar Origin… there are several different stories that revolve around the motorcycle sidecar story, pointing at different bars as being where this occured, and who was in the motorcycle. So it’s possible that this is how the drink got it’s name, but it is also possible that since it is such an “obvious” story, that somebody made it up in an effort to answer the question.

I have yet to see a definative account as to exactly where, when, and through what mechanism it got its name.

]]> by: Brenda Pederson http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-209 Mon, 26 Dec 2005 06:35:20 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2005/12/26/the_sidecar/#comment-209 I happened to come across a Sidecar entry in my <i>"Food Lover's Companion"</i> and it indicates the name comes from the fact that the originator always traveled in a motorcycle sidecar! Does that sound true? I happened to come across a Sidecar entry in my “Food Lover’s Companion” and it indicates the name comes from the fact that the originator always traveled in a motorcycle sidecar! Does that sound true?

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