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White Lady Cocktail

Proving that you shouldn’t judge a cocktail by its name, the White Lady Cocktail is a classic drink that’s appropriate for multicultural cocktail connoisseurs. It’s also easy to craft at home in just five minutes.

White Lady Cocktail with Bracelet
Image: ©2foodtrippers

The White Lady cocktail caught our eye because and despite of its name. Let’s face it, the name ‘White Lady’ isn’t exactly politically correct.

Not only does the name gender code the cocktail but it also excludes a majority of the population who represent a rainbow of colors including black and brown. In the era of cancel culture, we thought long and hard before we crafted White Lady cocktails at home.

We’re glad we ultimately decided to give the politically incorrect drink a whirl. Not only is this classic gin cocktail easy to craft, but it also looks and tastes like a dream.

History Of The White Lady Cocktail

White Lady Cocktail with Lemon Twist
The White Lady’s history is a bit of a mystery. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

History reveals that the White Lady cocktail was probably invented by a Harry… but we’re not sure which Harry.

One inventor could be Harry MacElhone, a Scottish bartender who claims to have invented the White Lady in London before he purchased Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. MacElhone’s White Lady creation included crème de menthe but omitted egg white. This origin story has the most credibility and makes the White Lady a French cocktail.

However, it’s possible that Harry Craddock, a British bartender at the American Bar at The Savoy Hotel and author of The Savoy Cocktail Club Book, invented the White Lady. If so, it’s also possible that he named the white cocktail after Zelda Fitzgerald’s platinum blonde hair. Either way, this Harry didn’t add egg white to his White Lady either.

Discover more cocktails with egg white to craft at home.

What Is A White Lady Cocktail?

White Lady Cocktail with Bracelet on Rim
However, there’s no mystery in how to drink a White Lady cocktail. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The White Lady cocktail is a gin cocktail that’s both a classic sour cocktail and a member of the sidecar family. Plus, it’s drink with multiple pseudonyms.

Also known as a Chelsea Sidecar, Delilah, Janikedvence and Lillian Forever, the White Lady has a bright flavor profile that tastes like summer. But it’s not just a summer cocktail. Over the years, the White Lady has become a popular Christmas cocktail in Great Britain.

Pro Tip
Despite its genteel appearance and hoity-toity name, this Pre-Prohibition cocktail packs a punch. Discover more of our favorite Pre-Prohibition cocktails.

Ingredients

White Lady Cocktail Ingredients
The White Lady’s ingredients include gin, cointreau, lemon (juice and peel) and an optional egg white. Ice is also necessary for shaking. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Like most classic cocktails, the White Lady has a short and sweet ingredient list. You likely have all of the required items in your home bar and pantry:

  • Cointreau
  • Dry Gin
  • Egg White (optional)
  • Lemon Juice
  • Lemon Twist (garnish)
  • Ice Cubes (for shaking)
White Lady Cocktail Liquors
The White Lady recipe’s two liquors are gin and cointreau. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Gin and triple sec are the White Lady’s two key ingredients and required liquors. We choose to use Citadelle Gin de France and Cointreau when we craft White Lady cocktails at home.

Citadelle’s dry gin has 19 botanicals and comes in a pretty blue bottle. Plus, it felt right to use this gin since we also use it when we craft Pink Lady cocktails.

Discover our favorite gin cocktails.

Choosing to use Cointreau was a no-brainer. We adore the orange liqueur and previously added it to our Orange Creamsicle and French 75 cocktail recipes. Its gentle citrus flavor completes those drinks and the White Lady too.

Discover our favorite Cointreau cocktails.

How To Craft A White Lady

White Lady Cocktail Mis en Place
Our White Lady cocktail recipe doesn’t require any special tools or ingredients. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The first step in crafting a White Lady is to measure the gin, cointreau and fresh lemon juice. We use a Japanese jigger to both avoid spillage and ensure accurate measurements.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

Measuring Cointreau for a White Lady Cocktail
Using a Japanese Jigger allows us to accurately measure a 1/2 ounce of cointreau. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The second step is to separate and measure the egg white. You can skip this step if you’re vegan or if you’re uncomfortable with drinking raw egg product.

Warning
Your cocktail won’t be foamy if you omit the egg white.

Separating an Egg White
Egg yolks in Portugal are bright orange. However, we only use the egg white in our White Lady recipe. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Pour the liquors, lemon juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker as you measure each. We like to use a Boston shaker for this and other cocktail recipes since it doesn’t leak.

Pouring Cointreau to a White Lady Cocktail
We pour each ingredient into a shaker immediately after we measure it. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The fourth step, shaking the cocktail, has two parts:

First, vigorously shake the ingredients without ice for about 20 seconds. This process is called a ‘dry shake’ and allows the egg white to emulsify.

Adding Ice to a White Lady Cocktail
After dry shaking our White Lady cocktail, we add ice and shake it a second time. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Next, after adding ice, shake the cocktail for another 20 seconds until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and chilled.

Pro Tip
There’s no need to ‘dry shake’ the cocktail if you omit egg white from the recipe.

The fifth step is to strain the cocktail into a coupe glass. We like to use one with a gold rim; however, you can use a small martini class or even a champagne flute instead.

Straining a White Lady Cocktail
The two-part shaking step results in a foamy texture that’s immediately apparent when straining the White Lady into a cocktail glass. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Regardless of your preferred cocktail glass, garnish the finished White Lady with a lemon twist.

Variations

White Lady Cocktail with Baubles
The White Lady is a classy cocktail but will it be your favorite cocktail? | Image: ©2foodtrippers

While the White Lady cocktail is ideal for both fancy functions and quiet nights at home, you may want to get creative with the milky white drink. Here are three ideas for those who want to flex their mixology muscles:

  • Replace the gin with tequila and the lemon juice with lime juice to craft a Margarita cocktail.
  • Replace the cointreau with grenadine syrup to craft a Pink Lady cocktail.
  • Replace the gin with cognac to craft a Sidecar cocktail.

Discover 10 essential bar tools for the home mixologist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a White Lady cocktail?

The White Lady is a Pre-Prohibition classic that’s both a classic sour and a member of the sidecar family.

Where was the White Lady cocktail invented?

With multiple origin stories, the history of the White Lady cocktail is a mystery.

Does the White Lady cocktail have other names?

Yes. The White Lady’s other names include Chelsea Sidecar, Delilah, Janikedvence and Lillian Forever.

What are the ingredients in a White Lady?

Cointreau, Dry Gin, Egg White (optional), Lemon Juice, Lemon Twist (garnish) and Ice Cubes (for shaking)

Is the White Lady shaken or stirred?

The White Lady is shaken, not stirred.

What type of glass is best for the White Lady cocktail?

We like to serve this cocktail in a gold-rimmed coupe glass but you could use a small martini glass instead.

Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

White Lady Cocktail with Lemon Twist
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5 from 4 votes

White Lady Recipe

The White Lady cocktail is both classy and cool. It's also incredibly easy to craft at home.
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drink
Cuisine: Cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 193kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces dry gin
  • ½ ounce Cointreau
  • ½ ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 egg white (optional)
  • lemon twist (garnish)
  • ice cubes (for shaking)

Instructions

  • Combine dry gin, Cointreau, lemon juice and egg white in a shaker.
  • Shake vigorously for 20 seconds so that the egg white emulsifies.
  • Add several ice cubes and shake for 20 seconds until the liquids are mixed and chilled.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Add a lemon twist as garnish.

Pro Tips

  • We like to use a coupe glass but a small martini glass or champagne flute will work too.
  • The egg white can be omitted if you’re a vegan or uncomfortable with ingesting raw eggs.

Estimated Nutrition

Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 52mg | Potassium: 69mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We purchased the ingredients and tools used to craft this cocktail.

Original Publication Date: September 3, 2021

Recipe Rating




Eleanor lewis

Friday 4th of February 2022

I made the politically incorrect White Lady Cocktail and it is delicious. Especially while we are sitting outside barefoot and the temperature is 70 in February in Virginia Beach, VA. Due to be only 35 tomorrow so we are enjoying it while we can! 🍸 And a sidenote: Our small 50pound Rottweiler mix rescue is named Bete Noire. Actually after an amazing chocolate torte I have made. We just call her Bete so as not to upset anyone!

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