2 parts Gin
1 part Cointreau
1 part Lemon juice

The origin of the White Lady is disputed, with at least two opinions. One states that it was created at Ciro’s Club in London in 1919 by Harry MacElhone, who is a famed creator of cocktails at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. He originally used crème de menthe, but replaced it with gin in 1929 when he got to the New York Bar.

The other opinion is that Harry Cradock of The Savoy created it. The recipe does appear in his 1930s “Savoy Cocktail Book.” Former head barman at The Savoy, Joe Gilmore, says the White Lady was a favourite drink of Laurel and Hardy. It’s still one of the most popular requests today.

The White Lady is a classic 1920s cocktail, and makes a great after-dinner drink. It’s featured in Molly Keane’s book “Good Behaviour” as the protagonist’s favourite drink. A famous comedic reference to the drink refers to a man bragging that he “had three White Ladies last night.”

The White Lady is best drunk when it’s very cold. To make one, mix the ingredients together, and shake them well with ice. Strain the mix into a frosted cocktail glass. It can be garnished with a twist of lemon zest. For a variation on the recipe, an egg white can be added for smoothness. Other ingredients can be replaced to make similar drinks, such as the Pink Lady, the Blue Lady and the Perfect Lady.