Sidecar
Sours · Brandy
- Strength
- 17.8%
- Std. drinks
- 1.58
- Calories
- 179
- Sugar
- 5.5 g
- 1¾ ozCognac50 ml
- ¾ ozTriple sec20 ml
- ¾ ozLemon juice20 ml
The ratio · 2½ : 1 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Spicy Margarita.
Head to head
Sidecar and Spicy Margarita side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have triple sec. Only the Sidecar has Cognac and lemon juice; only the Spicy Margarita has red chili pepper, tequila, lime juice and agave syrup. In parts, a Sidecar is 2½ brandy, 1 triple sec and 1 lemon; a Spicy Margarita is 2 tequila, 1 triple sec, 1 lime and ¼ agave. By volume, the Sidecar is 56% spirit, 22% liqueur and 22% citrus; the Spicy Margarita is 47% spirit, 24% liqueur, 24% citrus and 5% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Sidecar is the stronger drink in the glass (17.8% ABV against 16.7%), but being smaller it holds about the same alcohol (1.58 and 1.52 standard drinks). The Spicy Margarita has more calories (about 199 against 179) and more sugar (10.7 g against 5.5 g). Both are shaken; the Sidecar is served in a coupe, the Spicy Margarita in a rocks glass.
Sours · Brandy
The ratio · 2½ : 1 : 1
Highlighted: not in the Spicy Margarita.
Sours · Tequila
The ratio · 2 : 1 : 1 : ¼
Highlighted: not in the Sidecar.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Sidecar vs.
Spicy Margarita vs.