Foolish White Lady

The Foolish Lady is our version of a traditional White Lady. A drink of two Harry's and a Henry.

The first written version of the White Lady is nothing close to what we have now. Brandy, crème de menthe and triple sec, created by Harry MacElhone, of Ciro's and Harry's New York Bar. Probably more famous for creating the Bloody Mary in 1920, Harry MacElhone created some of the world's best-known cocktails. He published this version of the White Lady in 1923 in his book "Harry of Ciro's ABC of mixing cocktails".

To most, however, Harry Craddock of The Savoy's American Bar will be the creator of what we know today as the White Lady, said to have created this in 1927, it was published his "The Savoy Cocktail Book" of 1930. This is the extremely close version we see today, essentially a Gin Sidecar - no mention of egg white.

There is a third option, Victor Cabrin of London's Grosvenor House is said to have invented the White Lady, with the possible addition of egg white. We don't have a written recipe, but a news article dated 1934 for Booth's gin showing Victor making his White Lady.

Harry Craddock is the most often attributed creator, at Foolish, Henry our head distiller and resident mixologist, likes to omit the egg white best. Here's his recipe:

The Foolish Lady

2 shots (50ml) Foolish Gin
1 shot (25ml) Cointreau
1 shot (25ml) Fresh Lemon Juice
(OPTIONAL: white of 1 egg)

DRY SHAKE (Shake without ice) for 15-30 seconds vigorously.
SHAKE over ice.
FINE STRAIN and SERVE straight up in a coup/cocktail glass.
GARNISH with a lemon twist.

N.B. For some this will be a touch sharp, taste it, and you can add a small amount of sugar syrup, a barspoon's worth will be enough. This is actually most likely closer to the original drink, as Cointreau has been getting slowly drier since the invention of the drink.