• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Crowded Kitchen
MENUMENU
  • Recipes
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About Us
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
×

Home » Recipes » Cocktails

Gin Sidecar

Published: Mar 17, 2023 by Lexi

11 shares
Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This Gin Sidecar cocktail is slightly sweet, citrusy, floral, and refreshing. Made with gin, simple syrup, lemon and orange liqueur, they're quick and easy to make (and so pretty!).

Finished gin sidecar with lemon garnish and wedges around it.
A lemon twist is the perfect, simple garnish.

Our gin sidecar is essentially a twist on the classic sidecar cocktail. For this version, we're replacing cognac with gin (which we actually prefer). It's light, refreshing, and the perfect slow sipping cocktail.

In case you were wondering, we're using Empress Gin in this drink for that gorgeous purple hue. Empress gin is naturally purple/blue from blue butterfly pea flowers, which also add a floral, earthy note to the gin that we love. It's totally optional (you can use any gin), but we love the color!

Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Instructions
  • Tips and FAQs
  • More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Quick and easy cocktail: With a few easy-to-find ingredients, this gin sidecar is super easy to whip up for any event or summer evening.
  • Well balanced flavors: This gin sidecar combines citrusy flavors of orange liqueur with a hint of sweetness from the simple syrup. Lemon juice adds the perfect amount of acidity, and gin adds a lovely herbal flavor.
  • Twist on a classic: A traditional sidecar cocktail contains cognac, lemon juice and orange liqueur. Our version keeps that same base flavor profile, swapping out cognac for gin.
  • Lemon sugar rim: This is totally optional (and not traditional), but we love adding a lemon zest sugar rim to our gin sidecar! It makes the drink extra cute and also adds an extra pop of citrus flavor.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this gin sidecar:

Gin sidecar ingredients including lemon juice and gin.
We love using Empress gin which has butterfly pea powder in it (for that stunning purple hue).

Ingredient Notes

  • Gin: Since it's the star ingredient of this cocktail, we recommend using a good quality gin for this recipe. We used Empress gin, which has a natural purple hue (from blue butterfly pea flowers). It's totally optional - you can use any variety of gin you'd like!
  • Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed is ALWAYS best in cocktails. Avoid using the stuff that comes in a can or bottle, which always contains preservatives and never tastes nearly as fresh.
  • Simple syrup: You can also sub 1:1 with agave syrup. To make simple syrup from scratch, simply combine equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Then remove from heat and let cool.
  • Orange Liqueur: Alongside the gin, this is helps to create a well-balanced flavor profile. You can use Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Triple Sec.

Instructions

(1) Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Pouring the liquids into the cocktail shaker filled with ice.
How stunning is that purple to yellow ombre!?

(2) Shake well for 10 seconds.

(3) Moisten the rim of your glass with a lemon wedge.

Left: cocktail in shaker. Right: rimming the glass with a lemon wedge.
Use a lemon wedge to moisten the rim before dipping in the lemon sugar mixture.

(4) Mix together all ingredients for the rim on a shallow dish. Then, dip the rim of your glass in the lemon zest mixture to coat. 

Strain the cocktail into rimmed glasses. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Left: placing the glass rim in the lemon zest mix. Right: straining the cocktail into a glass.
We love to serve these gin sidecar cocktails in pretty coupe glasses.

Tips and FAQs

  • Lemon sugar rim: Mix together lemon zest, sugar and salt. (A touch of salt balances the flavor so it's not too sweet.) Dip the rim in agave or run a lemon wedge around the rim to moisten it. Then, dip the rim in the lemon sugar mixture to coat. Easy and delicious! This step is totally optional, though – the cocktail is still great without it.
  • Garnish: We love to garnish this gin sidecar with a lemon twist. Simple, classic, and chic!
  • Make ahead for a crowd: You can multiply and make the base cocktail mixture ahead of time and store in a pitcher. When ready to serve, stir well, then pour into each glass and garnish!
Front view of the gin sidecar with a lemon twist.
Lemon zest + sugar? Say less!

More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

  • Finished passion fruit daiquiri in an orange glass.
    Passion Fruit Daiquiri
  • Front view of kentucky mule with lime and mint garnish.
    Kentucky Mule
  • Finished French 77 cocktails in glasses with lemon peel garnish.
    French 77
  • Close up of the finished blood orange old fashioned cocktails.
    Blood Orange Old Fashioned

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

Print

📖 Recipe

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Finished gin sidecar with a lemon garnish and rim.

Gin Sidecar


  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cocktails 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

This Gin Sidecar cocktail is slightly sweet, citrusy, floral, and refreshing. Made with gin, simple syrup, lemon and orange liqueur, they're quick and easy to make (and so pretty!). 


Ingredients

Units Scale

Cocktail: 

  • 4 ounces gin (we used this)
  • 2 ounces orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec)
  • 3 ounces lemon juice
  • 2 ounce simple syrup

Rim (optional):

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 ½-2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well for 10 seconds.
  2. Mix together all ingredients for the rim on a shallow dish.
  3. Moisten the rim of your glass with a lemon wedge. Then, dip the rim of your glass in the lemon zest mixture to coat. 
  4. Strain the cocktail into rimmed glasses. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Notes

Gin: Since it's the star ingredient of this cocktail, we recommend using a good quality gin for this recipe. We used Empress gin, which has a natural purple hue (from blue butterfly pea flowers). It's totally optional - you can use any variety of gin you'd like! 

Orange Liqueur: You can use Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or Triple Sec.

Make ahead for a crowd: You can multiply and make the base cocktail mixture ahead of time and store in a pitcher. When ready to serve, stir well, then pour into each glass and garnish!

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Shaker
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 13.8 g
  • Sodium: 1.3 mg
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.8 g
  • Fiber: 0.1 g
  • Protein: 0.1 g

Keywords: gin sidecar

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @crowded_kitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #crowdedkitchen

More Cocktail Recipes

  • Finished rum moscow mules in copper mugs with lime and mint garnish.
    Rum Moscow Mule
  • Finished rum margaritas with lime slice garnish.
    Rum Margarita
  • Front view of the finished French 95 with a lemon garnish.
    French 95
  • Finished blue mojitos in bubble shaped glasses.
    Blue Mojito

Reader Interactions

Let us know what you think! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Lexi and Beth toasting with wine.

Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

More about us →

Featured in:

Featured in Buzzfeed, yahoo, Men's Journal, Huffpost, MSN, Food & Wine, Country Living, yummly, and Parade.

Spring recipes

  • The Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar
  • Super Green Vegetable Soup
  • Vegan Pasta Bake
  • Overhead view of spaghetti squash soup in a bowl.
    Spaghetti Squash Soup
  • overhead view of vegan mediterranean sheet pan dinner with tofu, chickpeas, vegetables and tahini yogurt drizzle.
    Mediterranean Sheet Pan Dinner
  • overhead view of vegan creamy beet pasta in large pot.
    Creamy Beet Pasta

Most popular recipes

  • How to make Infused Liquors (5 Ways)
  • close up overhead view of vegan bean soup in a bowl on white linen surface.
    Three-Bean Vegetable Soup
  • close up view of a passion fruit martini in a glass with dark backdrop.
    Passion Fruit Martini
  • overhead view of vegan mac and cheese in pot
    The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese
  • Two tequila mule cocktails in copper mugs with lime and mint garnish on antique blue table.
    Tequila Mule
  • side view of limoncello spritz cocktail garnished with fresh mint.
    Limoncello Spritz

See more-->

Footer

Back to top ↑

About

  • Learn About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • See our Portfolio

Newsletter

  • Sign up for weekly emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
  • As Seen In

Copyright © 2022 Crowded Kitchen