Dec 10, 20202 min read

White Lady

Are you looking for your next favourite Gin cocktail ? Well, we have just the thing. This is the White Lady.

Also known as the Delilah or the Chelsea Side-car, the White Lady is a classic gin based cocktail that originated from London’s Ciro’s club in 1919 and was created by Harry MacElhone. It is disputed that the White Lady was first made by Harry Cradock at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel. One point behind this is a recipe for a White Lady containing gin, Cointreau, and fresh lemon juice appears in the Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930.

The White Lady is a part of the “Side car “ family as its build and ingredients are very similar apart form having gin in the place of brandy. In later years additional ingredients such as egg white, sugar or cream where added to the recipe to create a smooth frothy texture on the top of the drink. No egg white is included in MacElhone’s or Cradock’s original recipe.

The drink itself has a very appealing dry but smooth taste to it much like a sidecar with citrus tones from the lemon juice and Cointreau. This sort of drink is often compared to a classic gin sour or sour drinks because of its acidity , but Side cars and White Lady’s tend to be lighter on acidity and drier.

It is a drink that has stood the test of time and is still under the spotlight today. Joe Gilmore former head barman at The Savoy said that the White Lady was Laurel and Hardy’s favourite drink. So, if it is good enough for two legendary actors , then it may just be your next favourite drink. Here is how it is made.