Perfect Lady

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (38 ratings)

Serve in a Coupe glass

Ingredients:
2 oz Hayman's London Dry Gin
12 oz Giffard Crème de Pêche de Vigne liqueur
34 oz Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
16 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup)
12 oz Egg white (pasteurised) or Aquafaba (chickpea water) or 3 dashes Fee Brothers Fee Foam cocktail foamer
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Garnish: Lemon zest twist (spray and discard) & peach slice

How to make:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker, DRY SHAKE (without ice) and fine strain into chilled glass.

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

  • Egg white (pasteurised) - Eggs

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 6/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

This White Lady riff uses peach liqueur in place of triple sec to make a lighter, fruitier elaboration.

View readers' comments

History:

Created in 1936 by Sidney Cox, a bartender at the Grosvenor House, London for The British Empire Cocktail Competition where it took the 1st Prize. That same year a constitutional crisis in the British Empire was caused by King-Emperor Edward VIII's proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. Religious, legal, political, and moral objections were raised due to Mrs Simpson being twice divorced and the marriage was opposed by the King's governments in the United Kingdom and the autonomous Dominions of the British Commonwealth. Despite the opposition, Edward declared his love for Mrs Simpson and his refusal to give her up led to his abdication in December 1936.

He was succeeded by his brother Albert, who took the regal name George VI. Disgraced due to renouncing the throne, Edward was given the title His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor. He married Mrs Simpson the following year and they remained married until his death 35 years later. She was obviously his 'Perfect Lady'.

Nutrition:

One serving of Perfect Lady contains 198 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.4 standard drinks
  • 16.97% alc./vol. (16.97° proof)
  • 19.9 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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Chris Dimal’s Avatar Chris Dimal
4th June 2024 at 15:05
A bit underwhelming, fairly sour. The standard White Lady is definitely better than this.
John CARR’s Avatar John CARR
8th March at 12:02
Rather like the Edward and Wallace marriage then!!
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
9th March 2023 at 01:18
Interesting history of the year it was created. The peach was just faint, but the combination of the ingredients gives the cocktail a smell and taste of mild pineapple. Enjoyed.
8th March 2023 at 19:00
That's your choice for International Women's Day? Mrs bloody Simpson? Maybe save it for "backhanding jerk bartenders day".
9th March 2023 at 02:39
You might have done a little research and highlighted a women bartender who was an important part of cocktail history. For example, "one of the best-known female bartenders in history, Ada Coleman worked at the American Bar at the Savoy Hotel as head bartender. Not only was she a shining light for other women who wanted to follow in her footsteps, but she was one of the first women who had her professional work recognized.
She created the Hanky Panky inspired by the actor Sir Charles Hawtrey who frequented the Savoy’s bar and is one of the first examples of Fernet Branca being used in a cocktail."
Hanky Panky
1½ ounces dry gin
1½ ounces vermouth
1½ ounces Fernet-Branca
Orange twist, for garnish
Fill a mixing glass with ice, then pour in all of your ingredients.
Stir, and strain into Martini glass or a coupe.
Garnish with an orange twist.
Paloma Difford’s Avatar Paloma Difford
8th March 2023 at 19:19
Hi Niki, we selected a Perfect Lady more for the name which I quite like, than for the background to the drink! What cocktail would you like us to toast IWD with next year?
Chris Corboy’s Avatar Chris Corboy
27th July 2022 at 08:39
Used Tanqueray, which seems to blend really well and bumped the Simple Syrup up to 7.5ml.
Avatar

Anonymous

5th August 2021 at 14:41
Tried it with Bombay Sapphire Dry Gin and Creme de Peche from Sainsbury. Still very nice texture and initial taste. After-taste was a big meh, probably because of the ingredients I used. Overall fairly good :)