Is Racecar a Cocktail?

Yes, the Race Car is a real cocktail, though you’ll find different versions depending on who’s mixing it. It’s essentially a turbocharged variation of the classic Sidecar, typically swapping cognac for bourbon to create a bolder, more aggressive drink. The name plays on both the power of the cocktail and the racing world’s high-speed glamour.

What Makes a Race Car Cocktail

At its core, a Race Car follows the classic Sidecar blueprint: a base spirit mixed with orange liqueur and fresh citrus, shaken cold and served up or over ice. The difference lies in the choice of spirit and the intensity it brings.

Where a traditional Sidecar uses cognac for elegance and refinement, the Race Car opts for bourbon or sometimes high-proof whiskey. This substitution transforms the drink from a sophisticated French classic into something more muscular and American. The citrus and orange liqueur remain, but they’re now balancing a bigger, bolder base.

Some versions also play with the garnish. You might see a scorched lemon wheel, meant to evoke burnt rubber on a racetrack. Others keep it simple with an orange twist. The presentation varies, but the concept stays consistent: speed, power, and punch.

The Most Common Race Car Recipe

The Bourbon Race Car (Sidecar Variation)

This is the version you’ll encounter most often, especially in American craft cocktail bars. It became particularly popular around 2020, inspired by the film Ford v Ferrari and the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz high-proof bourbon (100 proof or higher works best)
• 1 oz Grand Marnier or Cointreau
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• Scorched lemon wheel for garnish (optional but dramatic)

Method: Combine bourbon, orange liqueur, and lemon juice in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled tumbler or coupe glass. If you’re going for the full effect, scorch a lemon wheel with a kitchen torch on both sides until charred, let it cool, and use it as garnish.

The high-proof bourbon is key here. It gives the drink the horsepower its name suggests. Lower-proof bourbons work, but you lose some of that aggressive edge that makes a Race Car different from just another whiskey sour variant.

The Gin-Based Version (Craft Gin Club)

A less common but equally valid interpretation comes from the UK’s Craft Gin Club, which created a Monaco-inspired version for their subscribers.

Ingredients:

• 50 ml Mediterranean citrus gin (like La Distillerie de Monaco)
• 25 ml proprietary Race Car syrup (tropical notes)
• 15 ml fresh lemon juice
• 100 ml Italian soda (Spuma Polara or similar)
• Orange wedge garnish

Method: Build in a rocks glass over ice. Add gin, lemon juice, and syrup. Stir briefly, then top with Italian soda. Garnish with an orange wedge.

This version leans into the glamour of Formula 1 and Monaco’s Grand Prix culture. It’s lighter, more effervescent, and tropical compared to the bourbon heavyweight. Think of it as a Race Car for a Mediterranean coastline rather than an American speedway.

Why Multiple Recipes Exist

Here’s the thing: Race Car isn’t an official IBA cocktail. It’s not in the canon like a Margarita, Manhattan, or even the Sidecar it’s based on. That means bartenders, brands, and home mixologists have freedom to interpret it.

Some bartenders see “Race Car” and think: bourbon Sidecar with a masculine, high-octane twist. Others imagine Monaco, Formula 1, champagne celebrations, and build something lighter and more festive. A few even use the name for completely unrelated race-themed drinks at sporting events.

All of these interpretations share the racing theme and the idea of speed and intensity, but the liquid in the glass can vary significantly. It’s similar to how “Martini” means one thing in a classic cocktail bar and something entirely different at a chain restaurant.

Unlike standardized classics, the Race Car is still evolving. It hasn’t settled into a single, universally accepted recipe. That can be frustrating if you’re looking for the definitive version, but it also means you have room to experiment.

Which Version Should You Make?

If you’re a Sidecar lover who wants something with more backbone, start with the bourbon version. It’s the most straightforward riff and closest to the original template. The high-proof bourbon gives you that powerful, wake-up-call experience the name promises.

Gin enthusiasts might enjoy the Mediterranean variation, especially if you have access to a citrus-forward gin and quality Italian soda. It’s more complex to source the ingredients, but the tropical, effervescent result is worth it for a summer party or outdoor gathering.

For party settings or batch cocktails, simpler is better. Stick with the three-ingredient bourbon formula. It’s easier to scale up, doesn’t require specialty syrups, and most guests will immediately understand what they’re drinking.

My recommendation: start with the bourbon Sidecar riff. It’s the most accessible, widely recognized, and true to the cocktail’s name. Once you’ve nailed that, you can experiment with different base spirits, adjust the citrus balance, or try your own racing-themed variation.

The Sidecar Connection Explained

To understand the Race Car, you need to know the Sidecar. Created in post-World War I Paris, the Sidecar is one of the great classics: cognac, orange liqueur (usually Cointreau), and fresh lemon juice, shaken and served in a sugar-rimmed glass.

It’s elegant, balanced, and distinctly French. The cognac provides smooth, grape-based richness. The Cointreau adds bitter orange complexity. The lemon cuts through with bright acidity. Everything works in harmony.

The Race Car takes that refined template and Americanizes it. Swap the cognac for bourbon, and suddenly you’re dealing with a completely different personality. Bourbon brings corn sweetness, oak char, vanilla, and a rougher, more assertive character. The orange liqueur and lemon still balance the drink, but now they’re taming something wilder.

Think of it this way: the Sidecar is a vintage European roadster, graceful and precise. The Race Car is an American muscle car, louder and built for raw power. Both will get you where you’re going, but the experience is completely different.

Some bartenders rim the glass with sugar, like a traditional Sidecar. Others skip it entirely, letting the bourbon’s natural sweetness do the work. There’s no wrong answer, just different interpretations of how much you want to honor the original versus making something entirely new.

Whether you call it a Race Car or just a bourbon Sidecar with attitude, the drink delivers exactly what the name promises: speed, power, and a kick that’ll wake you up. Mix one, adjust the proportions to your taste, and decide which version deserves pole position in your home bar.