White Lady
Gin at the opera
A gin sour dressed in orange and lemon. Triple sec adds citrus warmth while lemon juice keeps everything bright. Clean, classic, and endlessly sophisticated in its simplicity.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 oz Gin
- 1 oz Triple Sec
- 2/3 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Method
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well until chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Created circa 1929 by Victor Cabrin at London's Grosvenor House Hotel (per Difford's Guide #2091), though Harry MacElhone's 1919 brandy version at Ciro's Club and Harry Craddock's popularization in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book represent competing claims. Standardized recipe of gin, triple sec, and lemon juice. Listed as The Unforgettables tier on IBA. Notes: Difford's documentary evidence (1934–1946 trade press) favors Cabrin; origins remain disputed among cocktail historians.
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