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Cocktail History
The Between The Sheets is a classic cocktail that was created by bartender Harry MacElhone in the 1920s at his bar Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. It’s considered the cousin of the Maiden’s Prayer, another classic recipe made with rum and citrus, but the Between The Sheets calls for Cognac instead of gin as its base.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. I used Courvoisier VSOP Cognac.
Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and water that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. I used Plantation Original Dark Rum.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. I used Cointreau.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Orange Peel: This the peel of an orange that has been cut into a strip.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Peeler: This is used to remove the garnish peel from the citrus. I used the OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Golden yellow color
• Aroma: Delicate brandy spices
• Taste: Rich brandy and rum flavor intermingled with bright citrus
• Finish: More tart citrus and spices
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “With how tasty this cocktail ended up being, I couldn’t believe I’d never heard of it before. The oakiness of the spirits mixed with the brightness of the citrus is truly a delight, and the flamed orange garnish adds drama to an otherwise simple drink. I could see myself making the Between The Sheets again.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-04-18.
Between The Sheets
The Between The Sheets is a classic cocktail that was created by bartender Harry MacElhone in the 1920s at his bar Harry's New York Bar in Paris, France. It's considered the cousin of the Maiden's Prayer, another classic recipe made with rum and citrus, but the Between The Sheets calls for Cognac instead of gin as its base.
Ingredients
Method
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Add brandy, dark rum, triple sec, lemon juice, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
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Flame orange peel and add to glass as garnish.
