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WhatDrink

Cocktails

White Lady

White Lady is a crisp gin cocktail with a citrus-led profile and a polished chilled serve. It suits occasions where the drink should feel elegant, bright and more refined than casual.

Reviewed by How we calculate nutritionSuggest a correction
Cocktailalcoholic28.6% ABV3 ingredients

At a Glance

186 kcalCalories
28.6%ABV
8gSugar
10.4gCarbs
1.45Std 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 & Tools

Tools:Cocktail Shaker

How to Make It

  1. Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice.Shaken
  2. Shake well and strain into large cocktail glass.Shaken

How to Serve

Glass
Cocktail Glass
Temperature
Chilled
Ice
Ice
Method
Shaken
Served Chilled

Taste profile

Primary flavours

CitrusBotanical

Supporting notes

HerbalJuniperSweetTart

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
  • Bright and citrusy
  • Full-bodied

What do these dimensions mean?

Practical notes

Variations

Easy ways to adjust White Lady

For a sharper version, increase the citrus slightly. For a rounder version, add a touch more sweetener or use a richer base ingredient, but avoid hiding the fresh acidity.

When to choose it

How to decide if White Lady is right for you

White Lady is best when you want brightness and a clean tart edge. Choose it if citrus balance matters more than richness, creaminess or heavy sweetness. The listed serve is about 28.6% ABV, so strength is part of the decision.

Skip if

Skip White Lady if...

Skip White Lady if tart citrus is not what you want. Sour-style drinks rely on acidity, so they can feel sharp when you are looking for richness or sweetness.

About this drink

The White Lady has competing origin claims around Harry MacElhone and the Savoy tradition. Early versions changed over time, but the modern gin, orange liqueur and lemon structure places it close to the Sidecar family, with gin taking the role of brandy.

When to serve

  • Seafood DinnerSuggested from its lemon and citrus notes, pairing with ceviche and seafood.

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

SeafoodCevicheSalads

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-FreeVegetarian

May be limited

Vegan

Not compatible

KetoLow-CarbLow-Sugar
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

Gin4cl

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

Triple Sec3cl

CointreauGood swap
How much to use
Use the same amount; adjust sweetness only if needed.
What changes
Cointreau is usually a strong substitute for triple sec and often gives a drier, more intense orange note.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Blue CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount; expect a visible color change.
What changes
Blue curaçao can replace triple sec when the orange note is acceptable and the blue color is wanted.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible
Orange CuracaoWorks, but changes the drink
How much to use
Use the same amount, then adjust sweetness if needed.
What changes
Orange curaçao can replace triple sec, but it may make the drink richer or sweeter.
Vegetarian-compatibleGluten-free-compatible

Lemon Juice2cl

Lime JuiceWorks, with a noticeable change
How much to use
Start with the same amount, then adjust sweetness if the drink tastes too sharp.
What changes
Lime juice can usually replace lemon juice, but the drink becomes sharper and more tropical.
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

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a White Lady at home?
Yes. The White Lady 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.