Directions
Never in the history of cocktails has a name been more appropriate than the White Lady: we are dealing with the white lady, an elegant and refined lady, who hides beneath a white dress a symphony of incredible taste, all played on the tones of citrus fruits that intertwine with the pungent taste of gin.
The White Lady, also known as Delilah, Chelsea Sidecar, and Lillian Forever, is a very close starter at Sidecar. It differs only in the use of gin instead of cognac. Not a tiny difference, given that the warm and velvety embrace of Cognac is replaced by an algid, Nordic touch with aromas of wood and juniper.
Let’s not confuse the white lady with a banal gin sour, as the presence of the triple sec adds not only sweetness but also intriguing citrus aromas and additional alcohol.
The history of the White Lady cocktail is a battleground: the first written recipe appears in the imaginative Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, but it is thought that the creator was the stainless Harry MacElhone in 1919. Unfortunately, we will live tormented by this terrible doubt.
Pay attention to the alcohol content: like all beautiful and fascinating things, the White Lady is a cocktail with high alcohol content. It is acceptable as an aperitif, but don’t overdo it!
Ingredient for making the White Lady cocktail
- 4 cl of gin
- 3 cl of triple sec
- 2 cl of freshly squeezed lemon juice
How to prepare the White Lady
Let’s face it right away: the original recipe, like the IBA one, does not include the use of egg white. And there is no need for it.
It adds texture, but the flavor of the egg white clashes in this sea of freshness. It weighs it down and ruins its aromatic elegance. Do some tests, and then judge for yourself.
Squeeze half a lemon and strain the juice. Fill a shaker with ice, pour the gin, lemon juice, and triple sec (or egg white if you want), shake for 15 seconds, and pour, filtering, into a cup you have previously frozen. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
Pro tip
The White Lady is a sharp cocktail, especially if you use a slightly sweetened and very “citrusy” triple sec. But if for many this is its main virtue, for others it might be a problem, so add a drizzle of sugar syrup to balance the drink.
Other unforgettable gin-based cocktails you should try
Gin Tonic, Paradise, Tom Collins, Heidi, Bramble, Negroni, Gin Fizz, French 75, Tuxedo, Dry Martini.
Food Pairings
Pair it with parmigiana ravioli, spaghetti with clams, chicken tikka masala, Chicken Cacciatore, Vitello Tonnato, truffle risotto, pasta alla carbonara, paella mixta.
