A pre-Prohibition riff on the timeless Sidecar, the Between the Sheets mixed drink is thought to date to the 1920s. It’s often credited to bartender and author Harry MacElhone of Harry’s New york city Bar in Paris, though there’s some conflict about whether he originated the dish or was simply the very first to release it. Regardless, the Between the Sheets and Sidecar stay early examples in the sour household of cocktails, or those combined with sugar and lemon or lime juice.
Both beverages consist of brandy, lemon juice and orange liqueur. Nevertheless, the In between the Sheets avoids the Sidecar’s sugar rim, and integrates Cognac with light rum for its base. In addition to sparing you the mess of rimming (and later cleansing) sticky sugar, this also creates a more layered flavor profile and permits the sweetness of the spirits to take spotlight.
With components from multiple parts of the spirits world, the Between the Sheets is a cocktail where the quality of active ingredients has an outsized effect. You’ll get a completely drinkable cocktail out of budget brandy, rum and triple sec, however with each of spirit balanced in equal parts, the individual tastes support each other and don’t leave much else to conceal behind.
When selecting a Cognac, it’s important to factor what last taste profile you prefer. More youthful bottlings, like a V.S. will often emphasize the mixed drink’s fruit characteristics and taste drier. Longer-aged offerings like an X.O. will bring deeper notes of oak, though countered with a more mellowed alcohol profile. You can also split the distinction with a V.S.O.P., as an excellent way to ensure you’re getting a quality bottling that’s seen a minimum of 4 years in oak, without going into full-blown extra-old territory.
Deau V.S. and Martell V.S., as well as the cocktail-oriented Pierre Ferrand 1840, are options in the $20– 40 variety that work well for mixed drinks. Hine Rare V.S.O.P. and Paul Beau V.S.O.P. tend to be around $50– 75 but are ideal for mixed drinks (or sipping neat), still fresh but with a bit more oak.
What do age declarations indicate on Cognac?
V.S.: “Very special,” youngest brandy in mix aged at least 2 years
V.S.O.P.: “Extremely remarkable old pale,” aged at least four years
Napoleon: Aged at least 6 years
X.O.: “Extra old,” aged a minimum of 10 years
Lighter rums tend to be best to avoid here, as they can butt heads with aged Cognac. Flor de Caña 4 Year Extra Seco and Diplomático Planas are affordable options that work well, while Rhum J.M. Agricole Blanc is an agricole offering from Martinique that’s distilled from pure sugarcane juice instead of molasses and blends magnificently. You could also attempt a clairin rum from Haiti. Made generally from regional wild sugarcane, clairin tends to offer grassy, organic and earthy notes to your beverage. Clairin Vaval and Saint Benevolence are terrific bottles to begin with and assist yield a deeper profile rather than a strictly fruit-forward, daiquiri-like beverage.
MacElhone’s initial recipe particularly requires Cointreau, a triple sec basic bearer utilized in numerous mixed drinks. But an increasing variety of available orange liqueurs will also work well and could help you tailor your flavors. Combier has long acted as a fine Cointreau stand-in, while Lazzaroni Triplo is a sweeter option with bright citrus flavor that remains mellow enough to mix well. Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur is a tangier option that uses a citrus passion bitterness to balance its sugar, while Magdala Orange Liqueur from Juan Torres Master Distillers in Spain is produced with a brandy base that pairs well with the other ingredients in a Between the Sheets.
Versatile to a broad range of tastes based on the ingredients you select, experimentation can assist tailor this beverage to any taste buds. Here’s how to make it.
In Between The Sheets Cocktail Recipe
Time/Servings
Total Time
–.
1 min.
Serving Size
–.
1
Active ingredients
1 ounce Cognac
1 ounce light rum
1 ounce Cointreau or triple sec
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
Lemon or orange peel, for garnish
Instructions
Combine all components except garnish in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake for 15– 20 seconds until well cooled. Double-strain into chilled martini, coupe or Nick & & Nora glass through fine mesh strainer. Twist lemon or orange peel over surface area of beverage to reveal oils, and drop in as a garnish.
Published on February 12, 2022
Source: https://www.winemag.com/recipe/between-the-sheets-cocktail/