Pink Lady

The Pink Lady cocktail combines dry gin, applejack brandy, lemon juice, grenadine, and egg white for a drink that is tart, lightly sweet, and topped with a smooth foam. Its vivid pink color may suggest a sugary cocktail, but the citrus and spirits give it a more balanced, tangy flavor. This classic is straightforward to make at home, provided you shake it well to create its signature frothy finish.

The drink is often associated with the Prohibition era, when added flavors helped improve the taste of lower-quality gin. It later became a fixture of fashionable cocktail culture from the 1930s through the 1950s. Grenadine provides both sweetness and color, so you can adjust its amount slightly to suit your taste.

Pink Lady Cocktail: How It Differs from a Clover Club

The Clover Club is another pink, foam-topped cocktail with a similar period association. Its key differences are the fruit flavor and spirit: it uses raspberry syrup instead of grenadine and does not include applejack. If you enjoy berry-forward drinks, the Clover Club may appeal to you; the Pink Lady has a more apple-and-citrus character.

Is Egg White Safe in a Cocktail?

Using a pasteurized egg white greatly reduces the risk of illness from bacteria compared with using an unpasteurized egg. Keep eggs refrigerated and follow the storage and handling directions on the package. People who are pregnant, immunocompromised, older, or otherwise more vulnerable to foodborne illness may prefer aquafaba, the liquid from chickpeas, as a non-egg alternative for adding foam.

Choosing Gin for a Pink Lady

A dry, juniper-forward London dry gin is a traditional option and stands up well to the applejack and lemon. A lighter-style gin can also work if you prefer a softer botanical profile. Use a gin you enjoy drinking, since its character remains noticeable in the finished cocktail.

Pink Lady Cocktail Ingredients

• Dry gin: Gin forms the cocktail’s main spirit base. Together with the applejack, it gives the drink a substantial alcoholic strength.
• Applejack brandy: This apple-based brandy brings fruit flavor and depth. If it is not available at your local shop, ask whether it can be ordered.
• Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed juice adds a bright, tart note that balances the grenadine.
• Grenadine: This sweet red syrup gives the cocktail its pink hue. Add the measured amount first, then adjust slightly on a later batch if you prefer a sweeter or more colorful drink.
• Pasteurized egg white: Shaking it creates the cocktail’s creamy, silky foam. Use pasteurized egg white for a more cautious choice.

Serve the drink in a chilled coupe or martini glass. Chilling the glass ahead of time helps the cocktail stay cool for longer.

How to Make a Pink Lady Cocktail

1. Pour the gin, applejack, lemon juice, grenadine, and egg white into an empty cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously without ice for 30 seconds. This is called a dry shake, and it helps combine the ingredients and build foam.
3. Add ice to the shaker and shake again until the drink is thoroughly chilled.
4. Strain into a coupe glass and serve.

Use a firm, consistent shake for the first step. If the foam is not as full as you would like, make sure the egg white is incorporated before adding ice.

Tips for Making and Serving

• Garnish with a brandied cherry for a simple finishing touch.
• Chill the serving glass before mixing the drink to help maintain its temperature.
• For a batch, one egg white can provide enough foam for two cocktails, according to the recipe guidance. Shake the drinks thoroughly and check that the foam is evenly distributed when pouring.
• For the best balance, measure the ingredients rather than estimating, especially the lemon juice and grenadine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is applejack?

Applejack is a strong fruit brandy made from apples. It was popular during the American colonial era, though its prevalence declined in the 19th and 20th centuries as other spirits became widely available. Traditionally, one method of making it involved fermenting cider, freezing it, and removing portions of ice to concentrate the alcohol. In a Pink Lady, applejack contributes a distinct apple note.

Pink Lady Cocktail Recipe

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ ounces dry gin
• ½ ounce applejack brandy
• ¾ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce grenadine, or more or less to taste
• 1 pasteurized egg white

Equipment

• Cocktail shaker

Instructions

1. Add the gin, applejack, lemon juice, grenadine, and egg white to an empty shaker. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake again until thoroughly chilled.
3. Strain into a coupe glass and serve.

Nutrition Information

The listed nutrition values are estimates per serving and may vary depending on the ingredients used.

• Calories: 189
• Fat: 0.1 g
• Saturated fat: 0.01 g
• Sodium: 54 mg
• Potassium: 76 mg
• Carbohydrates: 11 g
• Fiber: 0.1 g
• Sugar: 7 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Vitamin A: 1 IU
• Vitamin C: 8 mg
• Calcium: 4 mg
• Iron: 0.1 mg

For a balanced, foam-topped drink, measure the ingredients, use fresh lemon juice, and shake the Pink Lady cocktail first without ice and then with ice. Choose pasteurized egg white or aquafaba according to your needs, and serve the finished cocktail in a chilled glass.