Pink Lady Cocktail

Elegant and eye-catching, the Pink Lady cocktail is a classic that’s as charming as it is delicious. With its delicate blush hue and smooth, frothy texture, this vintage drink blends gin, apple brandy and lemon juice with a touch of grenadine for sweetness. It’s a timeless choice for happy hour or any occasion that calls for something pretty in pink.

About this Pink Lady Cocktail recipe

The Pink Lady cocktail is one of those drinks that feels like a little luxury in a glass. I whipped these up for a cozy movie night with my girlfriends, and it instantly made the evening feel a bit more special.

With its silky texture, tart lemon bite, and just the right touch of sweetness and bold color from grenadine, this cocktail is as balanced as it is beautiful. It also includes an egg white, which gives it a silky, meringue-like texture.

If you’re nervous about drinking egg whites, you may certainly omit it as it won’t affect the flavor, but I do recommend at least giving it a try! The frothy egg white gives it a cloud-like top that’s elegant but not fussy. Don’t knock it ’til you try it. It’s a vintage favorite for a reason!

Sure, the Pink Lady looks like a girly drink, but the flavor is strong, floral and dry. Don’t let this pretty pink drink fool you — this elegant classic is for anyone who loves a well-crafted cocktail.

More gin cocktail recipes: Bee’s Knees Cocktail • Classic Gin Gimlet • French Blonde

History

The Pink Lady is a gin and grenadine cocktail dating back to the early 1900s and popularized in the 1930s during Prohibition in the United States. People added flavored ingredients like grenadine to mask the flavor of alcohol. 

There were other cocktails called the Pink Lady cocktail but the one we know today was originally published by Jaques Straub in 1913. It’s very similar to a Jack Rose cocktail, with gin. This glamorous drink was beloved in Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s.

This vintage recipe has resurged in recent years in the craft cocktail movement, and for good reason — it’s a gin cocktail worth knowing! You can also try Pink’s sister, the White Lady, which is made with gin, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice and an optional egg white.

Tools & glassware

For the Pink Lady cocktail, you’ll want to grab your basic bartending set ^* with a cocktail shaker ^*, jigger ^* and strainer. To make the egg whites frothy, you’ve got to shake, shake, shake the mixture really well.

She’s usually served in an elegant coupe glass ^* with a stem. The more glamorous, the better!

favorite coupe glasses

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^*

Ingredients

Here’s your ingredient list for this Pink Lady cocktail recipe — everything should be easy to find!

• London dry gin: Choose a quality gin for this elegant cocktail — more on this below!
• applejack: This apple brandy adds a sophisticated layer of flavor to this cocktail.
• lemon juice: Fresh-squeezed juice makes for the best drinks, if you have the time!
• egg white: Egg white gives drinks a silky texture and a foamy layer on top. Pasteurized eggs are safe for cocktails. If you’re weirded out, you can use liquid egg whites, aquafaba or a non-egg foam alternative for cocktails.
• grenadine syrup: You can use the bright red stuff, but you’ll get better tasting results with real grenadine made from pomegranate juice. You can even make your own grenadine!
• cocktail cherry: Finish it off with a simple garnish of a cocktail cherry ^*. (Skip the bright red maraschino cherry though!)

Best gin for the Pink Lady

London Dry gin works well for its crisp and botanical notes, which complement the fresh flavor of the mint. I used Hendrick’s Gin here — I love its botanical flavor for herbal-forward and fruity drinks like the Pink Lady or the Southside Cocktail.

But every brand of gin bears a different flavor profile. The one you choose will vastly affect the flavor of your Pink Lady cocktail. Every person will have a their own favorite gin, so take some time to experiment and find yours. Here are three gins I am enjoying right now:

• The classic Hendrick’s Gin is sweet and herbaceous with hints of juniper berries. It’s reliably delicious in lots of gin cocktails.
• A French gin, Citadelle Gin comes in a stunning blue bottle and delivers a bright, aromatic flavor with a hint of spice.
• For a more spendy option, Botanist is an Islay dry gin that’s versatile for mixing in cocktails, as it brings a classic gin flavor.

Vodka can be substituted for gin. Gin tends to carry strong herbal, floral flavors and vodka can provide a lighter experience for anyone who doesn’t love gin.

Instructions

Learn how to make this Pink Lady cocktail with this easy guide. Let’s get started!

Food pairings

A classy cocktail like the Pink Lady deserves elegant appetizers like cheese straws, mini cheese tarts or fig crostini. You can never go wrong with a cheese and charcuterie board to nibble on, either!

Desserts should be elegant too. A tray of lemon thyme shortbread or a slice of strawberry cake would also be perfect. Individual servings of butterscotch pudding are great for parties, too.

If you want another pretty pink cocktail to serve with the pink lady, the little tuxedos on this Chambord Royale cocktail would be a handsome match.

FAQ

More classic drink recipes

• Paper Plane Cocktail
• Pisco Sour
• New York Sour
• Bramble Cocktail