Between the Sheets Recipe: Cognac, Rum and Triple Sec

Between the Sheets

Take a Sidecar and add a measure of white rum: the result is brighter, lighter on its feet and noticeably stronger. The Between the Sheets is a crisp, orange-scented sour with a cheeky name and a serious kick.

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GlassCocktail glass

TechniqueShaken

DifficultyEasy

Time3 min

StrengthStrong (approx. 26 % ABV)

OriginFrance, 1920s

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Ingredients

1 oz cognace.g. Hennessy · Rémy Martin · Martell · Courvoisier · Pierre Ferrand
1 oz white rume.g. Bacardi · Havana Club · Plantation · Don Q · Flor de Caña
1 oz triple sece.g. Cointreau · Bols · Marie Brizard · DeKuyper · Giffard
¾ oz lemon juice

Garnish: Orange twist (optionally flamed) · Ice: Served up, no ice

Method

Chill a cocktail glass.
Add cognac, rum, triple sec and lemon juice to a shaker with ice.
Shake hard for 10 to 12 seconds.
Double strain into the chilled glass.
Express an orange twist over the drink; a flamed orange peel adds a smoky citrus note.

Watch it made

Between the Sheets

Taste

Rich cognac fruit and clean rum, bright orange from the triple sec and a tart lemon finish. Dry, citrusy and strong.

History and origin

The Between the Sheets is a variation of the Sidecar and belongs to the same family of brandy, orange liqueur and lemon sours that flourished in the 1920s. It is usually credited to Harry MacElhone of Harry's New York Bar in Paris, although this attribution is not firmly documented, and another story places it at a Paris nightclub.

The drink appears in Harry Craddock's "The Savoy Cocktail Book" of 1930 as a mix of brandy, Cointreau and Bacardi rum with a dash of lemon juice. Its risqué name, with its hint of a nightcap, is part of its charm. Modern recipes use more lemon than the original dash, and the IBA lists it among its "Unforgettables" with cognac, white rum, triple sec and fresh lemon juice.

Bartender tips

With 90 ml of spirits and liqueur, this is a strong drink: serve it in a small glass and sip slowly.
Cointreau is a good choice of triple sec, as it is dry and clean enough to balance the drink.
If you prefer it less tart, reduce the lemon juice to 15 ml.

Variations

Sidecar: The original template: cognac, triple sec and lemon, without rum.
Between the Sheets with a sugar rim (twist): A half sugar rim, as with a Sidecar, softens the acidity.