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Cocktail History
The White Lady is a classic cocktail that was created by Harry MacElhone in 1919 while he was working at Ciro’s Bar in London, England. His original recipe called for crème de menthe instead of gin before he swapped them out about a decade later after he’d opened his own establishment, Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. The altered cocktail now made with gin, citrus, and egg white eventually became a favorite of Errol Flynn, Laurel & Hardy, and other Hollywood stars, and it also earned a mention in several novels.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Gin: This is a spirit made with juniper berries, botanicals, and alcohol. I used Maison Ferrand Citadelle Gin.
Triple Sec: This is a liqueur made with bitter oranges, lemons, sugar, and alcohol. I used Cointreau.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. I used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Egg White: This is the clear liquid in an egg. I used fresh egg whites.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
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Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Frothy white color
• Aroma: Citrus and botanicals
• Taste: Light and frothy juniper flavor intertwined with tangy citrus and egg
• Finish: Herbal gin aftertaste
Kendall’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kendall’s Take: “If a bartender ever asks if you’d like to try this cocktail, immediately answer, ‘Oui,’ because it is so good. It’s simple yet feminine and elegant without the usual bright color many girlish drinks have. The White Lady is definitely a must-try if you’ve never had it! Someday I hope to be sipping one beneath the Eiffel Tower.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from The Art of Vintage Cocktails by Stephanie Rosenbaum.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2025-01-22.
White Lady
The White Lady is a classic cocktail that was created by Harry MacElhone in 1919 while he was working at Ciro’s Bar in London, England. His original recipe called for crème de menthe instead of gin before he swapped them out about a decade later after he’d opened his own establishment, Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, France. The altered cocktail now made with gin, citrus, and egg white eventually became a favorite of Errol Flynn, Laurel & Hardy, and other Hollywood stars, and it also earned a mention in several novels.
Ingredients
Method
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Add gin, triple sec, lemon juice, egg white, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Remove ice from shaker.
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Dry shake for 5-10 more seconds to emulsify egg.
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Strain into a cocktail glass.
