Between the Sheets
Cognac, white rum, triple sec and lemon in equal parts. A Sidecar with rum added, strong and sharp.
- Time
- 5 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Coupe
- Strength
- 2.9 UK units
How to make a Between the Sheets
- Chill the coupe. Fill a coupe with ice and water and leave it while you make the drink.
- Shake. Pour the Cognac, rum, triple sec and lemon juice into a shaker full of ice. Shake hard for 12 seconds, until the tin is frosted.
- Strain. Tip out the ice water and strain the drink into the coupe. It should be pale gold and very cold.
- Add the twist. Squeeze a strip of lemon peel over the top, skin side down, then drop it in or run it round the rim.
- Glass
- CoupeNo coupe? A small wine glass.
- Ice
- No ice
- Garnish
- A lemon twistOr: An orange twist.
What you need to make a Between the Sheets
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Cocktail shakerA two-piece Boston tin is the easiest to use and clean.
StrainerA Hawthorne strainer fits over the tin or glass.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Vegetable peelerFor wide strips of peel with little pith.
Bottles we'd use
- Cognac VS or VSOPCourvoisier VS or Hennessy VS are widely available and sturdy enough for a sour.Find it on Amazon
- A white rumHavana Club 3 Años or Bacardi Carta Blanca: clean and light.Find it on Amazon
- CointreauA dry, clean orange flavour balances the rum and brandy.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Between the Sheets variations and swaps
Use an aged rum in place of the white rum for a deeper, darker-fruited drink. For a drier version, cut the triple sec to 20 ml. A dash of orange bitters adds depth. Some people use lime instead of lemon, which tastes sharper and greener. If you want it less strong, use 20 ml each of Cognac, rum and triple sec, keep the lemon at 20 ml and shake with a little extra ice to add water. A half sugar rim on the glass makes it sweeter, as on a Sidecar.
The Between the Sheets story
Between the Sheets is usually described as a Sidecar with white rum added. Its origin is disputed: most accounts place it in 1920s Paris, and Harry MacElhone is often named, but nothing settles the question. The name has always carried a cheeky edge.
It is a sour with three spirits, so it is strong: one glass is close to three UK units, which is worth knowing before you make a second. Brandy gives dried fruit, rum adds roundness, and lemon cuts through the orange liqueur. A cheaper VS cognac works fine, because the other ingredients cover the difference.
Between the Sheets: your questions answered
What is in a Between the Sheets?
A Between the Sheets is made with 25 ml Cognac, 25 ml white rum, 25 ml triple sec and 20 ml fresh lemon juice. Garnish: a lemon twist.
Is a Between the Sheets shaken or stirred?
A Between the Sheets is shaken, not stirred. Shaking hard with ice chills it quickly and helps mix the juice in properly, which stirring cannot do. Shake until the outside of the shaker feels very cold.
How strong is a Between the Sheets?
Made to this recipe, a Between the Sheets contains about 2.9 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Between the Sheets in?
Serve a Between the Sheets in a coupe. No coupe? A small wine glass.
