Hit all the citrusy notes with our stylish sip, the White Lady cocktail. A gin-laced sour, where the zesty tartness of the gin, bitter orange botanicals, and lemon juice are beautifully tamed by the rich, silky egg white.
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice and shake well, until frothy
02
2.
Add a handful of ice and shake for another 10 seconds until icy-cold
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3.
Strain into a chilled coupe or cocktail glass
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4.
Garnish with a lemon twist
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5.
Serve
How to make the best White Lady cocktail
A boozy front-loaded cocktail needs a top-quality gin like a Bulldog Gin (opens in new window) for a solid base. Opt for Grand Marnier (opens in new window) for your orange liqueur for all the bitter orange this citrusy cocktail relies on. Fresh lemon juice adds to this and always brings the added sweetness that bottled juice can’t provide. Egg white is our final touch, which adds the silken, creamy texture for sophisticated sipping.
When making this drink, it’s best not to shake your egg white. The pros refer to it as a dry shake. Egg whites froth best at a lower temperature and emulsify into a smooth, silky texture. For optimum drinking temperature, shake it with ice after emulsification.
Chill your stemmed glass in the freezer for a short while. Or if there’s no space, drop a few ice cubes into the glass with a little water to chill it and tip it out before pouring.
History of the silky sipper
This pretty cocktail dates back to the early 1920s. The Harry MacElhone of Paris’ Harry’s Bar fame created a version of the drink while working in London. First developed with crème de menthe, it morphed to gin over time. We love the end result and, apparently, Laurel and Hardy loved it too. It was their choice when overnighting at the London Savoy.
What does it taste like?
The White Lady cocktail is a bracingly tart combination of gin, bittersweet orange liqueur, and lemon juice. The egg whites take the edge off and balance the scales to give it a smooth mouthfeel and an absolutely sublime sip.
This tart spirit-forward cocktail is a perfect antidote to rich, indulgent meals as an after-dinner sip. It also pairs well with warm baked pastry bites as a pre-dinner drink.
Variations of the traditional recipe
Here are a few variations on the classic you shouldn’t miss:
- For a wintery feel, add a dash or two of aromatic bitters that complement the triple sec beautifully.
- If our go-to recipe is too tart for your palate, add a splash of cream along with the egg white for a richer sip.
- If zesty flavors are your thing, then try making a Chelsea Sidecar; simply omit the egg white and add ½ oz of simple syrup to balance the tang.
- A Pink Lady cocktail without egg white is another one to try. To make one, use our recipe above, ditching the egg white entirely. Simply swap out the Grand Marnier (opens in new window) for apple brandy and add a dash of grenadine for all the pretty in pink.
