Dry, tangy, and slightly sweet, this cocktail should be served very cold in a chilled Martini glass. The neutrality of the vodka allows the citrus fruits to shine through, with a pronounced lemon acidity, while the Triple Sec adds a sweetness and slight bitterness.
The balalaïka is a Short Drink (Small quantity, High in alcohol, Served without ice).
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Classic recipePour 3 cl of vodka, 2 cl of Triple Sec (Cointreau) and 2 cl of lemon juice into a shaker with ice. Serve in a chilled Martini glass. . VariantReplace the lemon with lime and you have a Kamikaze. The Triple Sec + Lemon + Spirit combination is a successful one. Originally applied to Cognac (Sidecar), it also gave rise to Margarita (Tequila), White Lady (Gin), and XYZ (White Rum). |
The Balalaika cocktail is a classic mixology cocktail that likely dates back to the 1920s or 1930s, a period marked by the popularization of cocktails based on strong spirits and citrus fruits. It is a Russian variation of the famous Sidecar, a similar cocktail based on cognac (there is also the White Lady, this time with a gin base). This "Russian" variation reflects the growing popularity of vodka in Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, particularly after the Russian Revolution and the immigration of White Russians to the West.
The name "Balalaika" refers to the traditional Russian musical instrument, a nod to the use of vodka as the main ingredient.
