Pink Lady Gin Cocktail

The Pink Lady Gin Cocktail is not as sweet as summer cocktails, it’s gently tart flavor is a balance of gin, applejack, lemon juice, and grenadine.

The Pink Lady Gin Cocktail is a nice transition cocktail for this time of year. From the heavier drinks we imbibe during the winter months to warm weather drinks that focus on sweet, fruity variations, there is a period when I’m ready for change but not yet ready for cocktails featuring the fruits of the season.

Rumored to have been a favorite among ladies during the 1930’s to 1950’s, it has a reputation of being created during prohibition. It was not unusual for poor liquor, in this case gin, to be mixed with other flavors to mask an unpleasant flavor.

I suggest you not follow suit, use a good gin for this one; my choice was the original Hendrick’s Gin. It has wonderful notes that blend nicely with the other ingredients.

Maybe I am ready for something pretty though. There is something about pink cocktails that I love; they look so festive. Where I live in Colorado at 6200′ it might also be a sign that yes, spring is on it’s way even if it’s still snowing in my neck of the woods. Spring here is bi-polar for sure…70 degrees one day and a blizzard the next!

I first discovered this Pink Lady Gin Cocktail at a local restaurant where it was the monthly feature. It was just weeks before Covid put an end to meeting friends for drinks.

True confession? I had two friends, two VERY careful friends who came over once a month for drinks and a gabfest when there were so many restrictions and our favorite watering holes were closed.

We were careful and we observed all of the required protocols but we needed a girls night every once in a while too…it was our saving grace.

I made this cocktail for our first get together and it was a hit; I’m so glad I asked the bartender for the recipe. Even though it’s well known and I didn’t know I wouldn’t need it, that’s the one I’m using.

All the recipes I’ve seen include an egg white to make the Pink Lady Gin Cocktail frothy. I don’t like to live risky but I’ve always included one but if it’s a concern, either eliminate it or find eggs that have been pasteurized.

I found this article informative too; the chances of anyone getting salmonella are very slim actually and only a few groups should exercise caution; small children, elderly, pregnant, HIV-positive, or on chemotherapy—or facing some other immune-compromising medical situation. Still if you have any reservations, proceed accordingly.

One little bit of housekeeping news too. I’ve included cocktails on this site for something like eight years now, and for several years it was my ‘Friday Cocktails’ section and I did post a cocktail EVERY Friday. I would stay up until midnight to fulfill that obligation too.

Well, I’ve decided two things. First, I’m not making that schedule anymore, and second…who says I can’t publish on any other day?!! So it’s simple, it’s just Cocktails now and I’ve got no hard and fast rules for when I’ll publish drinks. I guess that makes today ‘Saturday Cocktails’ right? I have such lovely readers, no one has complained, but I thought maybe I should clarify anyhow if even one of you were wondering…what is up with that woman, it’s Friday, where is my cocktail! 🙂

More Cocktails that are Pretty in Pink!

PIN IT! ‘Pink Lady Gin Cocktail’

Pink Lady Gin Cocktail

A delightful pink cocktail with gin, applejack, lemon and grenadine. Slightly tart and delicious!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Course Friday Cocktails

Cuisine American

Servings 1 Cocktail

Calories 134 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1.5 ounces gin
• ½ ounce applejack
• ½ ounce lemon juice freshly squeezed
• ½ ounce grenadine See Notes for link to my homemade version
• 1 egg white

For Garnish

• 1 maraschino cherry See Notes for link to premium maraschino cherries

Instructions

 

• Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker without ice. Shake vigorously to mix the egg white and have it get frothy.

  Add ice to the shaker and shake more until the drink is ice cold.

  Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a cherry.

Notes

Grenadine

While you can purchase Rose's grenadine, it's mostly sugar water. Do you know the origin of grenadine? It's because pomegranate in French is grenade, hence grenadine, and it's a pomegranate syrup.

It's so simple, it's a blend of pomegranate juice and sugar that you simmer on the stove until it thickens slightly. So easy!

I've included the recipe in this post for a Tequila Sunrise cocktail; I used honey instead of sugar and we loved it.

Maraschino Cherries

While I keep regular maraschino cherries on hand for when I have an urge to make a Pineapple Upside Down Cake, for drinks I prefer cherries that look more natural. We love the Peninsula brand for cocktails!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Pink Lady Gin Cocktail

Serving Size

 

1 Cocktail

Amount per Serving

Calories

134

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

1

g

Sodium

 

60

mg

3

%

Potassium

 

248

mg

7

%

Carbohydrates

 

23

g

8

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

12

g

13

%

Protein

 

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

 

1

IU

0

%

Vitamin C

 

8

mg

10

%

Calcium

 

11

mg

1

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!