This pink lady cocktail recipe is not only a gorgeous color, but it’s delicious and perfect to sip at your next party!
This cocktail is not just for women
Just because the pink lady cocktail is pink, doesn’t mean it’s only for women. It’s not! This potent combination of applejack whiskey and gin wrapped in frothy egg whites is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, with enough flavor and punch for both men and women alike.
Fascinatin’ history of Laird’s AppleJack blend
Have you tried Laird’s AppleJack blend before?
Laird’s is a family run business and has been making spirits since 1698. Prior to their first recorded sale in 1760, George Washington wrote to the family and requested the recipe so he could continue to enjoy the AppleJack that was served to the troops by one of his soldiers, Robert Laird.
Today’s AppleJack blend is lighter, with less alcohol, than what was served to George Washington. The company changed the recipe in 1972 to satisfy consumer demands. Unlike what Georgie enjoyed, it is no longer straight apple brandy but is made from a base of 35% apple brandy combined with neutral grain alcohol. This gives it a unique smoothness as well as deeper, richer flavor than other whiskeys.
Yum!
Check out the fun history of this special spirit!
I’ve wanted to use this liquor for the longest time but I wasn’t able to find it at the mom & pop liquor store I frequent. I asked for it on several occasions because I thought I was just overlooking it. But each time I was told they didn’t have it.
Perhaps my repeated questions irritated them. Or perhaps they took pity on me. In any case, I finally found it on their shelves! Yahoo!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.
What makes this cocktail so thick and creamy?
The egg white.
Making cocktails with egg whites ensures you’re going to get a rich, creamy cocktail. Is there a danger using raw egg whites? There is always some danger, but if you buy the freshest eggs you can get it cuts down the time the egg could be exposed to bacteria. Also wash your hands before and after you handle them.
What is a dry shake?
When you dry shake, it means you don’t initially add ice to the shaker. When you make a cocktail with egg whites and sometimes cream, you want to dry shake it so the ice won’t stop the emulsification of the egg whites. The higher the temperature, the better chance of the egg whites to thicken.
Helpful tips
- This starts out as a dry shaken cocktail.
- When an egg white is added to a cocktail, you want to shake the ingredients without ice because it allows the egg proteins to unravel and form foam without being diluted. Here is a great article that explains adding egg whites to cocktails.
- When you are doing the dry shake, hold on tightly to the lid as the pressure of the egg in the shaker could cause the liquid to drip all over the place.
- After the dry shake, you add ice. This addition cools the liquid and lends a nice velvety texture to the cocktail.
- For the garnish, you can either use a channeling knife to cut strips from a lemon or do what I did with this cocktail: cut two thin lemon wheels, remove the flesh from their rinds and wrap them around something to make them curl (like a chopstick).
How to mix the pink lady cocktail
Pre-step
Get a cocktail shaker and do not add ice. Also get out a coupe glass and martini glass. Cut two lemon twists out of the rind. (See helpful tips above.)
After measuring each ingredient below, add it to the cocktail shaker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients: AppleJack liquor, gin, a lemon, an egg and grenadine.
Step two
Measure 4 ounces of AppleJack liquor.
Step three
Measure 1.5 ounces gin.
Step four
Measure 1 ounce of grenadine.
Step five
Measure 1.5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Step six
Separate two egg whites from their yolks and add to the shaker.
Step seven
Cap the cocktail shaker and shake it for at least 15 seconds. Just a warning: shaking will cause the contents to pressurize. Make sure you hold the top tightly.
Step eight
Add a few ice cubes into the cocktail shaker and shake it for another 15 seconds.
Step nine
Strain and divide contents of the shaker between the two glasses. Place the lemon twists on the side of the glass.
Let’s look at the other glass in front.
Yum!!
Other popular, vibrant cocktails
I hope you enjoyed this pink lady cocktail recipe. It’s so pretty isn’t it?
Leave me a comment to tell me what cocktail you really enjoy drinking as I’d love to know!!
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Pink Lady Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces AppleJack liquor
- 1.5 ounces gin
- 1.5 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 ounce grenadine
- 2 egg whites
Garnish
- 2 lemon twists
Instructions
- Don’t put ice in the cocktail shaker
- Add AppleJack, gin, lemon, grenadine and egg whites
- Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds – pressure may build up so hold on to the top of the shaker
- Add some ice and shake again for 15 seconds
- Strain contents between the glasses and add lemon twists
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
- This starts out as a dry shaken cocktail. Dry shaken means you don’t initially add ice to the shaker.
- When an egg white is added to a cocktail, you want to shake the ingredients without ice because it allows the egg proteins to unravel and form foam without being diluted. Here is a great article that explains adding egg whites to cocktails.
- When you are doing the dry shake, hold on tightly to the lid as the pressure of the egg in the shaker could cause the liquid to drip all over the place.
- After the dry shake, you add ice. This addition cools the liquid and lends a nice velvety texture to the cocktail.
- For the garnish, you can either use a channeling knife to cut strips from a lemon or do what I did with this cocktail: cut two thin lemon wheels, remove the flesh from their rinds and wrap them around something to make them curl (like a chopstick).
Nutrition
First published January of 2018.
Luci
Looks like the perfect cocktail to me. I’ll have about three of them.
Elaine
Yeeks! They pack a punch! Stick to two! 😉
Sandi
Applejack sounds like my kind of liquor! Gorgeous shots of this pink drink 🙂
Elaine
Thank you Sandi!
Dannii
It’s friday night and I could so go one of these that now. What a lovely colour.
Elaine
Thank you Dannii!! It’s almost 5:00 here! yay!!
Rae
Quite a pretty looking recipe; it reminds me of spring. I’ve only had applejack a couple of times and I’m definitely a fan of it. 😉
Elaine
Yay for Applejack!! Thanks Rae!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
I immediately thought of Oliver Sacks when you were telling that story about the pantry. I bet he would have had an explanation for your blind spots! Loving the pretty pink cocktail and that you used whites in it for foam. Yummy idea.
Elaine
Thank you Katie! I appreciate. I’d also love to know why I can’t find things. I just looked up Oliver. Fascinating!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
This looks so delicious! And I’m sure it tastes just as good as it looks. Yum!
Elaine
Thanks Liz. It is really good! The cocktail has a nice balance, which makes it special!
Christopher
Very tasty! Lovely texture! What’s not to like!?
Elaine
Hehe, Christopher!
Michelle
This looks so pretty, I love the color! I’ll have to try this one out soon
Elaine
Thanks Michelle! 🙂
Krissy Allori
Perfect for these hot Summer nights!
Elaine
It is. And you can feel pretty in pink as you sip it! 😉
Veena Azmanov
I want to feel special and this drink is surely for me. Love the color and presentation.
Elaine
Thank you Veena!
Noelle
How delicious!! I love the flavors of this drink, fun and flirty with the color!
Elaine
Thanks Noelle! It’s fun to be sure!
Irina
Made it tonight! What a gorgeous cocktail to sip and enjoy the fresh air, sitting on the balcony. Is it made for ladies? My husband really liked it as well!:)
Elaine
Hehe. That’s great! Men do like it, in fact they may find it funny, until they take a sip.
Patty
I had a few friends over yesterday and served this amazingly delicious cocktail, so refreshing, they all loved it! Goes right on top of my Elaine’s cocktails to make list!
Elaine
Hehe. Thanks so much Patty! You are a dear!