Pink Lady

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

No cocktail makes an entrance quite like the beautiful and radiant Pink Lady.

Tonight’s tipple, the sophisticated and potent Pink Lady, is primed to make a comeback. Once a star of the cocktail world, the drink fell out of favor in the 1950s, the ridiculous reason being it was considered “too girly”, or was strictly a beverage for women. But having had a few of these the other night, I can declare in no uncertain terms that even the biggest and toughest of macho and manly men will have a hard time getting up off the floor after a few too many of these softly colored elixirs. My mother always told me to never judge a book by its cover. And my mom, a lady, is usually always right. Except for that time she made a bet with me about some Star Wars trivia. I won.

Anyways, the Pink Lady is not at all a dainty or light cocktail. Just because its presentation is “non-threatening” doesn’t mean it won’t knock you down if you don’t respect its power. Remember the little bunny rabbit in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? Any mixed drink, no matter how cute and sweet they are, should be approached with respect and indulged responsibly. Lest the evening end in blood, fire and a lot of running away.

Around since the 1910s, there are a few claims to the origin of tonight’s recipe. Some say it was inspired by socialite and interior design star Elsie de Wolfe, while others say that Jacques Straub’s published cocktail that featured similar ingredients in 1913 was the initial spark. But many would say that the Broadway hit from 1911, the musical The Pink Lady, was the true source of inspiration. The cocktail remained a fixture at parties and gatherings, and even became a trendy Prohibition drink because of how it masked the rough bootleg gin of the era. Years later, an article in Esquire magazine deemed it to be one of the ten worst cocktails, purely for sexist reasons prevalent at that time. Soon after, the drink all but vanished.

This Lady, however, has stayed strong and resilient. Try one tonight and share it with your friends. It’s a gorgeous and strong dram, both inside and out.

What Is The Best Alcohol To Use In A Pink Lady Cocktail?

For the gin, you can choose between a citrus and juniper-forward London Dry gin, such as a Bombay Sapphire, or you can go for a sweeter Old Tom gin, which will go nicely with the brandy and lemon juice. As for the apple brandy, a bottle of St. George California Reserve might set you back a little, but not by much. And it’s worth every penny. You’ll even want to sip it straight.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH IS USED?

A chilled martini glass or cocktail coupe will carry your Pink Lady with elegance and class. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and let the night begin.

IS THIS THE SAME THING AS A CLOVER CLUB?

No. Sometimes the two are compared, but the raspberry-flavored Clover Club only has the gin, lemon juice and egg white in common with the Pink Lady.

Similar Cocktails To The Pink Lady

Gin and lemon juice are a perfect pair. Like Batman & Robin or Bert & Ernie, the crisp bite of London Dry matched with the sweet and tart sting of the citrus is indeed a dynamic duo. There are more drinks in the libation universe than you can shake something over ice at. Twist & Toast is here to get you started, if you don’t know what to try next.

• Ramos Gin Fizz – You’ll fall in love with this favorite from New Orleans.
• Gin Sour – Crisp, citrusy and bright, the Gin Sour is a welcome dinner guest.
• Tom Collins – One of the most refreshing and satisfying adult beverages you can drink.
• French 75 – Gin, lemon juice and sugar are topped with champagne in this historic libation.