Add a little ooh la la to your Valentine’s Day this year with the sultry Between the Sheets cocktail. It’s a saucy mix of rum, Cognac, lemon juice, and orange liqueur and it’s devilishly delicious. Shake up a few to start your night and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
Between the Sheets Cocktail
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Pour the rum, Cognac, Grand Marnier, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker with ice
02
2.
Shake for 20 seconds to chill then strain into a chilled coupe glass
03
3.
Garnish with lemon twist and serve
History of the Between the Sheets cocktail
True to its risqué name, the Between the Sheets cocktail history is patchy at best. No one is a hundred percent certain of its origins but there are two theories. They both date back to the 1920s, but in two different countries. Harry’s New York Bar was a famous bar in Paris. In its heyday, Harry MacElhone invented many famous cocktails, including, rumour has it, this one. The second theory is that it originated in London’s Berkeley Hotel and was created by a man called Mr. Polly.
Discover more Prohibition drinks: 12 Prohibition-Era Cocktails.
Variations
Like many cocktail greats, the Between the Sheets cocktail recipe has a multitude of tasty riffs. A simple swap of spirit and you’ve got yourself a whole new drink. Ditch the rum and you’ve got the famous Sidecar. Swap the Cognac and rum with gin then add an egg white, and you’ve got a White Lady. You can even switch the lemon juice to lime then give it a splash of tequila, and it’s a marvellous Margarita. It’s a classic cocktail build that just works brilliantly.
Looking for more classics? Top Picks from the IBA’s List of Official Cocktails.
When to serve
Much like the name suggests, the Between the Sheets cocktail is as naughty as it is nice. Serve it at your next cocktail party or shake a few this Valentine’s Day and treat yourself. Serve them extra cold, but sip responsibly because this elegant cocktail packs a solid punch.
You also might like: The Best Cosmopolitan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Unfortunately, the origins of the name are lost to history. If we had to guess, we’d say that it’s a cheeky reference to the fact that it features two spirits, packs a punch, and might lead to some naughty behaviour.
There are two competing theories behind the Between the Sheets cocktail history. The first is that it was invented by the famous Harry MacElhone of Harry’s New York Bar in the 1920s. The second is that by one Mr. Polly of London’s Berkeley Hotel in the 1920s.
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