The Perfect Lady Cocktail: A Summer Drink with a 1930s Pedigree
In 1936, Sydney Cox, a bartender at Grosvenor House in London, participated in the British Empire Cocktail Competition, presenting his concoction called the Perfect Lady. This cocktail, which combines dry gin, peach brandy, lemon juice, and egg white, continues the legacy of 'lady' cocktails that began with the Pink Lady in 1913 and the White Lady in the 1920s. Cox's drink features a harmonious blend of sweetness and tartness, topped with an egg white foam for a smooth finish. While some suggest the name may allude to Wallis Simpson, the article disputes this notion. The recipe includes 2 oz. London dry gin (Beefeater or Bombay), 0.5 oz. peach liqueur (Rothman & Winter or Giffard), 0.5 oz. lemon juice, 0.5 oz. simple syrup, and egg white, shaken dry and then with ice. Fresh peaches can be used as a substitute with adjusted measurements. This piece is authored by Jason O'Bryan, a cocktail bar manager in San Diego.
Key facts
- Sydney Cox created the Perfect Lady cocktail in 1936 for the British Empire Cocktail Competition.
- Cox worked at Grosvenor House in Mayfair, London.
- The drink contains dry gin, peach brandy, lemon juice, egg white, and simple syrup.
- The Pink Lady cocktail dates to 1913, named after a Broadway musical.
- The White Lady was first printed in the early 1920s and canonized in 1930.
- A 1937 cocktail book listed Blue, Brown, Golden, Green, and Sherry Ladies.
- Recommended peach liqueurs are Rothman & Winter Orchard Peach or Giffard Crème de Pêche.
- The article recommends London dry gins like Beefeater or Bombay.
Entities
Artists
- Sydney Cox
- Jason O'Bryan
Institutions
- Grosvenor House
- Beefeater
- Bombay
- Rothman & Winter
- Giffard
Locations
- Mayfair
- London
- United Kingdom
- Boston
- San Diego
- United States