The Cocktail Chronicles: Rum Sidecar

Slightly sweet and tart, this Rum Sidecar is a 3-ingredient drink that’s great for sipping. While sidecars can be made with various alcohols, this one is made using a golden (or amber) rum. Makes 1 drink, but the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled.

Love rum? You’ve got to try Dark and Stormy (Rum Moscow Mule) and Mojito Pitcher!

When I think of rum, the question, “But why is all the rum gone?” immediately pops into my head.

For this week’s Cocktail Chronicles recipe, we’re making a rum cocktail.

Why I love this recipe:

If you’re a rum lover and connoisseur, this is a great recipe for you.

Not only does it call for golden rum (which is sometimes referred to as amber rum), but it only needs two other ingredients… which you might already have on hand.

When we took our first sips of this cocktail, my husband declared, “It’s got a little tang to it.” And it sure does.

It’s also got some bitterness, too, and is not too sweet. (After all, we’re not adding sugar to this classic cocktail.)

The drink is pretty light, too, so it’s easy for sipping any time or for any occasion.

Other cocktails to try: Lemon Drop Martini | Cranberry Mule | Peach Margarita | Gin Gin Mule | Princess Violette Cocktail | Strawberry French Monaco Drink

Need drink inspiration? Head on over to my Cocktail Recipe Index for more ideas.

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Cocktail shaker
• Citrus juicer or citrus reamer
• Fine mesh strainer
• Cocktail glass or a coupe glass

In addition to these tools, you’re going to need a few ingredients, too. Three, to be exact:

• Golden rum—also known as amber rum, this aged rum has a slightly sweet, rich flavor. The rum is aged in wooden casks, which contribute to its flavor.
• Cointreau—this is my go-to orange liqueur, though you can use another orange liqueur like triple sec or Grand Marnier if you have those on hand instead
• Lemon juice—always juice your own so it’s fresh! The shelf-stable stuff you purchase at the store is not the same and will yield a less flavorful cocktail.

Please note that you can swap out the amber rum for another type of rum, like dark rum or even spiced rum, to have some more caramel-y and spiced notes in this cocktail, which would be delicious. I do not recommend substituting white rum for it, though, since that has a milder taste.

How to make a Rum Sidecar

Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour the rum, Cointreau and lemon juice directly into the shaker.

Shake well, until very chilled.

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Garnish with a lemon wedge or lemon twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks to making your own Rum Sidecar:

• Change up the flavor by using a different type of rum. This recipe calls for golden rum, but you could easily swap that with dark rum or even spiced rum for deeper, spicier flavors.
• Make a batch. Since this 3-ingredient cocktail is pretty easy to pour and mix, you can easily make a double or triple batch of it to serve friends.

Other Cocktail Chronicles drink recipes: Southern Champagne / Bloody Mary / Mustique / Kingston / Tom Collins / Cosmopolitan / Cutty Sark on the Rocks / Blizzard Bourbon Cranberry Cocktail