White Lady | An Easy Classic Gin Cocktail with 5 Ingredients

The White Lady is a classic gin cocktail that’s tart and smooth. You’ll only need 5 simple ingredients and you probably already have all of them on hand.

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You can never go wrong with a classic cocktail. Especially if it’s a classic gin cocktail. Gin is my favorite spirit because each brand varies so wildly from the next. If you think you’re not a gin fan, I challenge you to keep trying different brands. Your match is out there.

Whenever I try a new brand of gin, I love using it in classic cocktail recipes. If you’re used to knowing what a classic cocktail like a White Lady or a Gimlet tastes like, it’ll be easy to see how much a particular gin changes the feel and profile of the drink.

For months now I’ve had a White Lady cocktail on my list of recipes to try. Don’t know if I have the right to call myself a lover of classic gin cocktail recipes without ever having tried a White Lady. Now I can though. Because I finally made one. And it’s dang good.

If you’re a fan of classic sour drinks like a Daiquiri or a Whiskey Sour, the White Lady is a must-try. It’s a gin sour made with a silky egg white. If you’re weirded out by the thought of using a raw egg white in your cocktail, I understand. Really, I get it. I waited years before trying one and I only wish I’d tried it sooner. You can read this post to see that the chances of getting sick from a raw egg white are actually pretty slim.

I also feel a lot better about consuming raw or undercooked eggs at my house because I’ve got my own supply of eggs. We live in a rural part of Texas and currently have 5 hens in our backyard flock. I was never a fan of birds until we got chickens. Now I’m the person who bypasses the monkeys to get to the bird exhibits at the zoo.

It only seemed fitting to put our own little white lady in these pics. Although the egg white in this cocktail definitely does not belong to her because she’s a freeloader. She only lays eggs when she feels like it. Which is apparently never. At least she’s sweet.

You can always make the White Lady without an egg white. It’ll still be good– it just won’t be as smooth or as silky. And you won’t have that pretty foam on the top, either. If you’re wanting the foam and the silkiness but don’t want the egg, you can use aquafaba. It’s a great vegan option and lots of mixologists use it in place of egg whites.

If you love a good classic gin cocktail, check these other recipes out:

• Gimlet
• French 75
• Bee’s Knees
• South Side
• Ramos Gin Fizz
• Clover Club

Ingredients for a White Lady

• 2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz orange liqueur
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• 1/4 oz simple syrup (it’s so easy to make)
• 1 egg white

How to Make a White Lady

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker without ice. (This is called a “dry shake”.) Shake for 20-30 seconds. You may want to shake over a sink because the lack of ice will mean that the metal cocktail shaker won’t contract to create a tight seal. I.e. it’s gonna leak. Then, add ice and shake for another 30-45 seconds. Your arm is going to scream but the more you shake, the better your foam will be. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.