Homemade Vodka Sidecar
My preferred drink of choice always has been, and always will be, vodka. From screwdrivers and cape coders to cosmopolitans and Moscow mules, there are a lot of delicious cocktail recipes out there, but this sidecar recipe is one of my favorites!
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a refreshing, ice-cold drink at the end of a long, hot summer’s day.
This recipe is a little tart but also gets a nice touch of sweetness from the vanilla! It’s already a wonderfully delicious cocktail, but you’ll enjoy it so much more you’re not paying an outrageous markup at a bar!
🥘 Ingredients
- Vanilla vodka – homemade or store-bought
- Cointreau or Triple Sec
- Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
- Ice Cubes
- Lemon Slice or Lemon Twist for Garnish
- Superfine Granulated Sugar for Rim
See the recipe card for quantities.
🔪 Instructions
How to mix a Sidecar at home? You’ll first need to slice up a wedge of lemon and run it along the rim of your cocktail glass.
Next, coat a small plate with a small dusting of fine sugar. Now, go ahead and turn the rim of your cocktail glass through the fine sugar to make a beautiful sugar rim.
After you’ve coated the rim of your glass, you can set it aside while you mix your drink.
In a
Close the shaker and shake it all up until the cocktail is cold.
Once your drink is nice and cold and fully mixed, pour it into your prepared glass, garnish with a lemon wedge, and serve cold!
🍽 Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Close-Meshed Sieve
- Cutting Board
- Small Plate
- Kitchen Knife
- Cocktail Glass
🌡 Storage
This recipe makes the perfect amount for one glass, so you won’t need to worry about storage, but one big tip I can give you is to spring for a nice brand of vodka.
Personally, I love top-shelf options like Grey Goose and Belvedere! There are some great middle-of-the-road options, but try to avoid bottom-shelf offerings.
🙋🏻 FAQ
Most often, sidecars are made with cognac, orange liqueur, and fresh lemon juice, but there’s a lot of great variations out there — like this recipe!
While you’ll probably see a lot of variations out there, sidecars are known for being tart — thanks to the freshly squeezed lemon — as well as rich and refreshing!
There’s so many great combinations you can enjoy with vodka! If you like fruity options, try a screwdriver; vodka with orange juice. Or a cape coder, vodka with cranberry juice! It is also great with soda water and ginger beers. You’ll also find it in a ton of other cocktails, like the infamous Long Island Iced Tea!
Other Cocktail Recipes for You to Try
- How to make a Refreshing Strawberry Spritz Cocktail
- Lovely Lavender Spritz Cocktail
- How to make a Snowball Cocktail
- Refreshing Lavender Daiquiri
- Best Orange Cointreau Coffee
- Boozy Eggnog Milkshake
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Vanilla Vodka Sidecar
Equipment
- Small plate
- Cocktail Glass
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp Vanilla vodka
- 2 tbsp Cointreau or triple sec
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 cup Ice cubes
- Lemon slice for garnish
- Superfine sugar rim
Instructions
- Cut a Lemon slice and run it along the rim of your cocktail glass.Lemon slice
- On a small plate, place Superfine sugar on the bottom.Superfine sugar
- Now turn the rim of your cocktail glass through the fine sugar to make a beautiful fine sugar rim.
- Set the glass aside.
- Add 4 tbsp Vanilla vodka, 2 tbsp Cointreau, 2 tbsp Lemon juice, and 1 cup Ice cubes in a cocktail shaker.4 tbsp Vanilla vodka, 2 tbsp Cointreau, 2 tbsp Lemon juice, 1 cup Ice cubes
- Close the shaker and shake until the cocktail is cold.
- Pour the drink into the prepared glass, garnish with a lemon wedge, and serve cold.
Video
Nutrition
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⛑️ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
For further information, check Safe Food Handling – FDA.
Always heard about this nostalgic cocktail- didn’t know it was so delicious. Great recipe
Thanks Covita! Happy you liked it!