Cocktails

White Elephant

White Elephant is an alcoholic cocktail built on Gin. It leans herbal, botanical and citrus. Shaken and served in a Cocktail Glass. Expect about 26% ABV and roughly 199 kcal (estimated per recipe).

Reviewed by the WhatDrink Editorial TeamHow we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction

Cocktailalcoholic26% ABV3 ingredients

At a Glance

199 kcalCalories

26%ABV

3.2gSugar

4.4gCarbs

1.73Std Drinks

Estimated from parsed ingredients and typical ingredient nutrition.

On this page

How hard is it to make?

Easyshaken drink

Why: 3 ingredients, shaken drink, requires shaker

Estimated from the ingredient count and technique.

Ingredients

2.0 ozGinBase Spirit
1.0 ozSweet VermouthFortified Wine
1.0 ozEgg WhiteEgg Or Foamer

Contains an egg ingredient. Prepare with a fresh, safe egg; those who should avoid raw egg may prefer to skip it.

How to Make It

Shake with ice and strain into cocktail glass.Shaken

How to Serve

Glass: Cocktail Glass
Temperature: Chilled
Ice: Ice
Method: Shaken

Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

Herbal Botanical Citrus

Supporting notes

Juniper Red Fruit Spice Sweet Creamy

Flavor tags are derived from ingredient-level flavor mappings.

Estimated sensory profile

StrengthLight – Strong

BodyLight – Full

SweetnessDry – Sweet

AcidityFlat – Crisp

FruitinessEarthy – Fruity

BoldnessDelicate – Bold

High ABV
Full-bodied

What do these dimensions mean?

When to serve

AperitifSuggested from its botanical and herbal notes.
Happy HourSuggested from pairing with charcuterie and olives.

Occasion tags are inferred from drink style, serving format, flavour profile, food-pairing theme, recipe metadata, and strict multi-signal supplemental rule matches.

Food pairings

Charcuterie OlivesSalty Snacks

Food pairings are derived from the drink flavour signature, mapped to one dominant pairing theme, then limited to coherent public suggestions.

Diet & lifestyle

Compatible, based on the listed ingredients

Gluten-Free Vegetarian

May be limited

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar

Not compatible

Vegan

Find vegan-compatible cocktails

Diet tags are ingredient-level and nutrition-estimate based. Product brands, preparation methods, quantities, and substitutions may change compatibility.

Alternatives to try

Choose an ingredient to see reviewed substitutions, or filter for a different preference.

Reviewed ingredient substitutions

Gin2.0 oz

VodkaKnown variation

How much to use: Use the same volume; expect less juniper and botanical aroma.
What changes: Vodka can replace gin when you want a cleaner, less botanical drink, but it usually changes the cocktail identity.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Sweet Vermouth1.0 oz

Rosso VermouthGood swap

How much to use: Use the same amount; adjust only for the specific bottle’s sweetness and bitterness.
What changes: Rosso vermouth is a sweet red vermouth and is usually a close replacement for a generic sweet vermouth.

Dry VermouthNot a neutral swap

How much to use: You may need a small sweetener adjustment if the drink loses balance.
What changes: Dry vermouth is not a neutral substitute for sweet vermouth; it makes the drink much drier.

Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Reviewed component substitutions are not guarantees that the replacement was tested in this exact recipe. Follow the reviewed adjustment note and taste before serving.

Preference filters use current ingredient, nutrition and diet evidence. They are not medical advice, and this database contract does not store user selections.

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Last updated June 18, 2026

Ingredients, measures and method are taken from the source recipe; roles and serving details are mapped from reviewed evidence.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a White Elephant?: The White Elephant is a cocktail made with 3 ingredients, traditionally served in a Cocktail Glass. It has an ABV of approximately 26.0%. A standard serving contains approximately 199 calories.
What does a White Elephant taste like?: White Elephant has a flavour profile featuring Herbal, Botanical, Citrus, Juniper. The exact taste varies depending on the brands and measures used.
What food goes well with a White Elephant?: White Elephant pairs well with Charcuterie, Olives, Salty Snacks. The pairing is based on complementary flavour profiles from the recipe's ingredients.
How strong is a White Elephant?: The White Elephant has an ABV of approximately 26.0%. That's approximately 1.73 US standard drinks. This recipe is estimated to contain 199 kcal, 3.2g sugar, 4.4g carbs. Strength varies depending on the exact measures and ingredients used.
When is a White Elephant typically served?: White Elephant is often suggested for Aperitif, Happy Hour, based on its flavour profile and typical serve.
What drinks are similar to a White Elephant?: If you enjoy White Elephant, the "similar flavour profile" suggestions on this page point to cocktails that share its flavour character. Drinks with a matching spirit base and comparable body and acidity feel closest.
Can I make a White Elephant at home?: Yes. The White Elephant uses 3 ingredients, making it easy to prepare at home. You will need a Cocktail Glass. Use quality spirits and fresh ingredients for the best result.
What do the sensory profile dimensions mean?: Sensory profile dimensions describe key flavour characteristics: Body (light to full), Dryness (sweet to bone dry), Acidity (flat to crisp), Fruitiness (subtle to prominent) and Boldness (delicate to bold). Each scale helps you compare cocktails at a glance and find ones with similar character.
How do I use sensory profiles to find cocktails I like?: Compare the Body, Acidity and Fruitiness of White Elephant with other cocktails. If you enjoy this drink, look for others with a similar profile. Adjust one dimension at a time to discover new favourites while staying in your flavour comfort zone.