The Mysterious Origins Of The Sidecar Cocktail

The various claims on the sidecar

It appears that a soldier may have played a key role in the creation of the sidecar. According to one tale, as World War I was drawing to a close, a serviceman who often visited local bars would arrive on his motorcycle sidecar. His choice of transportation and favorite drink inspired the cocktail's name. At the Ritz Paris, Gourmet reports that English and American soldiers, in a rush during an air raid, mixed equal parts of liquor with lemon juice, shook the mixture with cracked ice, and strained it, giving birth to the sidecar.

Harry MacElhone, the bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, included a sidecar recipe in his book "Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails," first published in 1919. Although MacElhone later claimed to have invented the drink, by 1922 he acknowledged that it was actually created by his former colleague, Pat MacGarry, at the Buck's Club in London.

If you're keen to sample the original Ritz Sidecar, it is still available at the elegant Bar Hemingway located within the Ritz Paris. This version is crafted with a very old cognac, named after the Ritz and produced by Rémy Martin, which predates the European phylloxera outbreak first identified in 1863 that devastated vineyards for many years. The only downside, apart from the trip to Paris, is that it will cost you around $1,800!

New Orleans may have played a role in the sidecar's conception

The Brandy Crusta is a cocktail that originated in the 1850s, created by Joseph Santini at the City Exchange bar in New Orleans, roughly 50 years before the Sidecar made its debut. Both cocktails share several characteristics, including a sugared rim, orange liqueur, and lemon juice; however, the Brandy Crusta typically includes bitters and maraschino liqueur as well.

Often regarded as the predecessor to the Sidecar, the Brandy Crusta was innovative for its time, particularly with the introduction of sugar on the rim and lemon as a cocktail component. "It led to the Daisy, which then inspired the Margarita, followed by the Sidecar, and ultimately the Cosmopolitan," noted New Orleans bartender Chris Hannah in an interview with The Local Palate. While the complete history of the Sidecar may remain elusive, it is undeniably a significant cocktail that has captivated the cocktail community and endured through the years. If you have some cognac on hand, consider mixing up a Brandy Crusta for a delightful experience.