Name: Perfect Lady
Total time: 4 min
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 60 ml Gin; 15 ml Peach liqueur; 22.5 ml Lemon juice; 5 ml Sugar syrup 'rich' (2:1); 15 ml Egg white (pasteurised)

Ingredients

2 fl oz

Hayman's London Dry Gin

1/2 fl oz

Giffard Crème de Pêche de Vigne liqueur

3/4 fl oz

Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

1/6 fl oz

Sugar syrup 'rich' (2 sugar to 1 water) 65.0°Brix

1/2 fl oz

Egg white (pasteurised) or Fee Brothers Fee Foam cocktail foamer

How to make

Glassware

Prepare

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.

Prepare garnish of lemon zest twist and peach wedge.

Method

SHAKE all ingredients with ice and strain back into shaker.

DRY SHAKE (without ice) to emulsify.

FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish

EXPRESS lemon zest twist over the cocktail and discard.

Garnish with pear wedge on rim.

Flavour Profile

No alcohol

Medium

Boozy

Sweet

Medium

Dry/sour

Health & Nutrition

Nutrition:

One serving of Perfect Lady contains 198 calories

Alcohol content:

1.5 standard drinks
16.97% alc./vol. (33.95° proof)
21.4 grams of pure alcohol

Allergens:

Recipe contains the following allergens:

Egg white (pasteurised) — Eggs

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 because Mrs Simpson was 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'.

Comments & Discussion

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Beth Schneider 21w

A nice, subtle peachy variation on the White Lady.

Chris Dimal 2y

A bit underwhelming, fairly sour. The standard White Lady is definitely better than this.

John CARR Premium Member 1y

Rather like the Edward and Wallace marriage then!!

John Hinojos Premium Member 3y

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.

Niki La 3y

That's your choice for International Women's Day? Mrs bloody Simpson? Maybe save it for "backhanding jerk bartenders day".

Paloma Difford Verified User Premium Member 3y

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?

TrèsLongDrink 1y

why did you choose it again? and peaches aren't in season... 😅

Paloma Difford Continue thread (1 reply)

Niki La 3y

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.

Chris Corboy 4y

Used Tanqueray, which seems to blend really well and bumped the Simple Syrup up to 7.5ml.

Sebastian Dugudae 5y

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 :)

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Perfect Lady