Sidecar

Trinity Town, Norman Collins, 1936

Sugar, for the rim (optional)

1½ oz. cognac

¾ oz. Cointreau

¾ oz. fresh lemon juice

1 lemon twist, for garnish

If desired, wet the rim of a coupe and coat it with sugar.

Place the cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, fill it two-thirds of the way with ice, and shake until chilled.

Strain into the coupe, garnish with the lemon twist, and enjoy.

“What would you like—a Bronx or a Sidecar?”

“A Sidecar,” Vicky told him. She had never had a cocktail before.

Collins wrote a number of novels about contemporary British life, but he was more famous for his work with the BBC, first in radio and then in television. He resigned from the BBC in 1950 over creative conflicts, but he continued to work to make television a household necessity in Britain from the 1950s onward, and he championed new programming and broadcasting corporations, remaining active up until just before he died in 1982.

The Sidecar was probably invented during or just after World War I and usually consists of cognac blended with Cointreau or another orange liqueur, and lemon juice. As a choice for one’s first cocktail, it might be a bit strong, but still not a bad option!