Between the Sheets
Between the Sheets: The Risqué Cocktail from 1920s Paris or London
The origin of the cocktail is usually credited to Harry MacElhone at Harry's New York Bar in Paris in the 1930s as a derivative of the Sidecar Wikipedia. However, competing theories exist that claim the cocktail was created at The Berkeley in approximately 1921 Wikipedia by a manager named Mr. Polly.
Between the Sheets first appeared in print in Frank Shay's 1929 "Drawn From The Wood" with a recipe that called for gin rather than brandy Difford's Guide. In his 1954 book "My 35 Years Behind Bars," American bartender Johnny Brooks claimed to have created the cocktail while working at a Prohibition speakeasy in New Rochelle, New York Difford's Guide.
The drink is similar to the Sidecar, differing by using less cognac and adding white rum. This combination creates additional complexity while maintaining the citrus-forward character. The cocktail's suggestive name made it one of the earliest drinks with a risqué title, long before modern cocktails with provocative names became common.
When made with gin instead of rum and cognac, it's called a "Maiden's Prayer" Wikipedia, showing how variations on the basic formula created an entire family of related cocktails during this era.
RECIPE:
¾ oz white rum
¾ oz cognac
¾ oz triple sec (Cointreau)
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
Lemon twist for garnish
Method:
Add rum, cognac, triple sec, and lemon juice to shaker with ice
Shake well until chilled
Double strain into chilled coupe glass
Garnish with lemon twist