The Sidecar is a classic cocktail that was created in the early 1900s around the time of American Prohibition. Its exact place of origin is unknown because multiple stories have been passed around over the last century. It is often attributed to bartender Harry MacElhone of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France, but it has also been traced it to both The Ritz Hotel in Paris and the Buck’s Club in London, England around the same time. Regardless, the template traditionally includes brandy, triple sec, and lemon in varying ratios, and it was named for the motorcycle attachment that was a popular mode of transportation at the time.
(Optional) Pour sugar onto a plate, rub outer rim of a coupe glass with orange slice, and roll rim of glass in sugar until coated.
Add brandy, triple sec, and lemon juice to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Using a Hawthorne and fine mesh strainer, strain into rimmed coupe glass.
Garnish with orange twist.