White Lady Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Frothy, sweet and smooth, the White Lady is a cocktail for elegant evenings and sophisticated soirées.

To anyone who has ever had at least a passing interest in cocktails and their culture, the name Harry McElhone is probably a familiar one. McElhone, who died in 1958, is a legend amongst libation enthusiasts. Not only was he the owner of the famous Harry’s New York Bar, in Paris, France, he’s also the inventor of a number of iconic and historic drinks. Tonight’s recipe, the White Lady, is one of them.

In 1919, when Harry was working at Ciro’s Club in London, he created the first version of the White Lady. This early take used crème de menthe as the base spirit. A few years down the road, when he settled at the New York Bar in Paris, McElhone took another crack at the drink, this time using gin as the foundation. The frothy and pale color of the cocktail helped inspire its ghostly name.

Over the years, other mixologists have played with the recipe, like adding egg white for a foamy top, giving each sip a silky texture. I’m a big fan of the Gin Fizz, which uses the same ingredients—minus the triple sec—and is topped with club soda, so I was very excited to try this one out.

With citrus, botanicals and an extra zip of orange, the White Lady turned out to be a smooth and relaxing tipple, as well as a new favorite. I even added some club soda a few times to make mine a “White Lady Fizz”. Have I invented something? Probably not. But it’s good.

What Is The Best Gin To Use In A White Lady?

For my White Ladies, I used a bottle of balanced and dry Tanqueray, a stalwart and reliable London Dry gin. If you’re looking for a more botanical-forward spirit, Bombay Sapphire is what you’ll want. Both are easy to find, and easy on your pocketbook. If you’re looking to splash out a little and treat yourself, my favorite gin is No.3. Luckily it’s available near me, and at a decent price. If you see a bottle in the wild, do yourself a favor and bring one home.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH ARE USED?

Chill a cocktail coupe in the freezer from 15 to 30 minutes before pouring. Garnish with a lemon twist, if you wish.

ANY TIPS FOR DRY SHAKING WITH EGG WHITE?

Dry shake for no more than fifteen seconds. Maybe it’s just me, but when I do it for longer, my shaker explodes and egg white-laden cocktail goes all over the kitchen. It’s a mess. Like I said, maybe it’s only me and I’m doing something wrong, but dry shake for fifteen seconds, then add the ice.

Similar Cocktails To The White Lady

After you and your friends enjoyed the foamy pleasures of the White Lady, you’ve now realized you purchased way too much gin (no such thing) as well as having an abundance of lemon juice, triple sec and simple syrup lying around. Do you invite people over again for more White Ladies? Or do you go to Twist & Toast to see what recipes they have that can help you out?

• Gin Sour – A simple classic, both refreshing and crisp.
• Tom Collins – Gin, lemon juice and simple syrup topped with club soda make for a delicious and thirst-quenching tipple.
• Lemon Drop Martini – Combine vodka with your triple sec, lemon juice and simple syrup for a sharp, citrus-flavored treat.
• French 75 – Just top your gin, simple syrup and lemon juice with champagne for this superstar drink.