If you’re the mood for a sip worthy of a siren, then try the Pink Lady cocktail. This pink-hued potion was Jane Mansfield’s favourite cocktail. This blonde bombshell used to quaff one of these rosy elixirs before her evening meal. This Hollywood sex symbol was famous for her curves, her countless love affairs and lavish lifestyle. She invented the “wardrobe malfunction” decades before Janet Jackson. One of Jane’s favourite lines, was “nothing risque, nothing gained.” Her house set the bar for over-the-top celebrity homes and was nicknamed the “Pink Palace.” It featured a heart-shaped pool built and a bathroom with a heart-shaped tub with floor and ceiling-to-floor pink shag carpeting.
Despite it’s girly hue, the Pink Lady is quite tart. It’s essentially a gin sour. Gin is the main alcoholic ingredient (though applejack plays a cameo role). It’s a sour as it contains lemon juice. Egg white gives it a foamy head. Grenadine adds a touch of sweetness.The classic recipe only allows for a couple of dashes but it’s up to you if you want to add more to sweeten the citrus. I rimmed the glass with some pink sugar to add even more oomph.
Ingredients
1 1/2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce applejack (apple brandy)
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon grenadine
1 egg white (you can skip this but the drink will be less fun)
Maraschino cherry for garnish
- Add all ingredients (except garnish) to a cocktail shaker that does not contain ice. Shake hard for at least 30 seconds—you want the egg white to foam and create as much volume as possible, and it does this more readily when it’s warm rather than chilled.
- Once the egg white has become foamy and voluminous, add ice to the shaker until it’s half full. Shake vigorously until the contents are icy cold—about 20 seconds.
- Strain the contents of the shaker into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if desired, and serve.
Jane Mansfield’s famous heart shaped bath with floor to ceiling pink shag pile
