Gin, triple sec, and fresh lemon juice compose the White Lady, an IBA Unforgettable that ranks among the most precisely structured sours. Shaken with ice and strained into a large cocktail glass, it sets gin's botanical complexity against the orange sweetness of triple sec and the tartness of citrus, the three elements held in clean equilibrium. At roughly 24% ABV it is firmly spirit-forward yet balanced. The drink has remained a perennial classic since the 1920s, its elegance owed less to any single ingredient than to the proportion among them.
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White Lady
原料
- Gin 4cl
- Triple sec 3cl
- Lemon Juice 2cl
调制步骤
Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into large cocktail glass.
White Lady是一款由金酒、橙味力娇酒和新鲜柠檬汁制成的IBA Unforgettable经典鸡尾酒，摇和后滤入鸡尾酒杯。这是一款结构完美的酸酒，将金酒的植物复杂性、橙味力娇酒的橙甜味和新鲜柑橘的酸味完美融合。自20世纪20年代问世以来，其优雅的简洁性和均衡的风味使它成为永恒的经典。
History & Origins
The White Lady was created by Harry MacElhone, first at Ciro's Club in London around 1919 and refined at his own Harry's New York Bar in Paris around 1923. MacElhone's original recipe used crème de menthe, but the gin-Cointreau-lemon version that became definitive was published in his 1923 'Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails.' The IBA lists it among its Unforgettables, recognizing it as one of the canonical classic cocktails of the 20th century.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Gin's juniper and citrus botanicals with triple sec's sweet orange peel and fresh lemon zest. Palate: Bright and well-balanced, with gin providing an herbal-botanical structure, triple sec adding orange sweetness, and lemon juice contributing the tartness that ties the drink together into a classic sour profile. Finish: Dry, clean, and refreshing with lingering orange and lemon.
Pro Tip
Use a high-quality Cointreau rather than a generic triple sec for the best expression of the orange character, and consider adding egg white for a luxurious foam variation.
使用的技法
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are in the White Lady?
The White Lady is made with gin, triple sec (such as Cointreau), and fresh lemon juice, shaken with ice and strained into a cocktail glass. It is an IBA Unforgettable Classics cocktail and one of the most elegant gin sours in the canon.
Who created the White Lady and when was it invented?
The White Lady was created by Harry MacElhone at Harry's New York Bar in Paris in 1929. MacElhone refined an earlier version he had made at London's Ciro's Club in 1919 that used crème de menthe rather than gin, replacing it with gin to create the cocktail recognized today.
What does the White Lady taste like?
The White Lady is a beautifully balanced sour, with gin's botanical complexity — particularly juniper, citrus, and herbal notes — enhanced by the orange sweetness of triple sec and the bright tartness of fresh lemon juice. It is elegant and refreshing, with each element supporting the others without any one flavor dominating.
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