Spirituous and just on the sour side, the sugar rim is considered by some to be integral to this classic cocktail. Dilution is key to perfecting a Sidecar...
When making the Sidecar, I personally find that 30ml of Triple Sec is a little too much and that 15ml of lemon juice isn’t enough, we’re as making a Sidecar with both 22.5ml of Triple Sec and lemon juice, with the Hennessy Vsop cognac or any cognac of your choice still being 45ml, which ends up making the Sidecar a more balanced and quite the tasty drink
I made the original 1919 recipe, in the spirit of scientific history research. Used Meyer lemon which are not as sour as other varieties. The 3 ingredients balance each other nicely.
It's a classic for a reason. For me, the orange notes stand tall from the triple sec, with a touch of sour, and a little sweetness. You really don't want to overdo the sugar syrup here if you decide not to go with the sugar rim.