The Sidecar cocktail’s name refers to which part of a motorcycle?

The Sidecar cocktail’s name refers to a sidecar attachment fitted to a motorcycle.

The drink is traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice. It is shaken with ice and strained into a cocktail glass, often with a sugar rim. The combination produces a tart, citrus-forward drink with a rich brandy base.

A motorcycle sidecar is a small passenger compartment attached to the side of a motorcycle. The cocktail’s name is therefore a visual reference, not the name of a person or a brand. The exact inventor and birthplace of the drink remain disputed, with claims involving both London and Paris after the First World War.

The Sidecar belongs to the family of classic sour cocktails. Its structure resembles other drinks that balance a base spirit with citrus and a sweetening ingredient. Orange liqueur supplies the sweetness while also reinforcing the lemon’s citrus aroma, which is why changing the proportions can make the drink noticeably sharper or sweeter.