Wars and wheels
In David A. Embury’s famous book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks (1948), he credits the invention of the Sidecar Cocktail to an American army captain, stationed in Paris during World War I. The cocktail was named after the captain’s motorcycle sidecar.
However, in Harry McElhone’s Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails, he cites the inventor of the Sidecar Cocktail as Pat McGarry, a popular bartender at Buck’s Club in London. The drink rose in prominence in the 20’s and 30’s in Europe, and according to records, it was especially popular in France.
The Sidecar is a cocktail traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice. Variations include mixing a range of base spirits such as brandy (see Craft Creations below), and also mixing the spirits in different ratios. Enough history lessons, how do we actually make ourselves a Sidecar Cocktail?