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 White Lady.
Head to head
Sidecar and White Lady side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference
Spirit, orange liqueur and lemon in both: Cognac in the Sidecar, gin in the White Lady. The White Lady uses less spirit and more triple sec, so it is a touch sweeter; both hold about the same alcohol.
By the numbers
The Sidecar uses Cognac where the White Lady uses gin; both have triple sec and lemon juice. In parts, a Sidecar is 2½ brandy, 1 triple sec and 1 lemon; a White Lady is 2 gin, 1½ triple sec and 1 lemon. By volume, the Sidecar is 56% spirit, 22% liqueur and 22% citrus; the White Lady is 45% spirit, 33% liqueur and 22% citrus.
They are about equally strong in the glass (both 17.8% ABV), and they hold about the same alcohol (1.58 standard drinks each). The White Lady has more calories (about 189 against 179) and more sugar (8.0 g against 5.5 g). Both are shaken and served in a coupe.
Sours · Brandy
The ratio · 2½ : 1 : 1
Highlighted: not in the White Lady.
Sours · Gin
The ratio · 2 : 1½ : 1
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.