Are you a fan of fizzes, flips, and sassy sours? Then you must be aware of the age-old tradition of adding an egg white to cocktails. Many drink lovers balk at the prospect of adding raw eggs to their drinks. If you enjoy the smooth finish of a Whiskey Sour, then egg whites in cocktails might just be your thing and hey, you do you! We’ve covered everything that’s there to know about adding egg whites to cocktails and who knows it might open you up to a whole new world of spectacular cocktails.
Why Should You Add Egg Whites To Your Cocktails?
Before we get to how to correctly add egg whites to our cocktails, let’s try and understand why they’re added in the first place. You might expect a drink with raw egg whites to have a funky aftertaste or an eggy smell. But believe it or not, egg whites are devoid of any flavor and their protein content makes them ideal for a frothy drink.
The protein content of the egg whites allows you to trap enough air in your drink and enhance the texture of the drink without changing its flavor. The process is quite similar to whipping eggs to make a meringue. Shaking the egg whites into your drink gives it a lofty foam and luscious texture, adding more elegance to the cocktail.
Also Read: 5 Eggnog Cocktails You Must Try
What Kind Of Drinks Call For Adding Egg Whites?
You can add egg whites to citrus drinks that may require a thicker and smoother body to deliver the right flavor. Since egg whites are flavorless, they can be used to cut down the sharpness of many citrus drinks like Pisco Sour. They also make it feel richer and hold the cocktail flavors on your palate as with the White Lady. Egg whites are perfect for shaken drinks as they create frothy foams and add a rich texture.
Also Read: 5 Classic Sour Cocktails That You Need To Try
How To Correctly Add Egg Whites To Your Cocktails?
Egg whites aren’t made for stirred drinks. That being said, there are still plenty of cocktails where egg whites go really well. Here are some important steps to keep in mind so that you can make the eggs-celent drinks you’re aiming for!
Separating The Egg Whites
Cocktails only make use of egg whites, so the yolk needs to be separated from the whites. When you’re choosing eggs for your cocktails, make sure to go for the fresh ones. They have a thicker membrane between the whites and yolk, making it easier to separate them without much hassle. Secondly, choose refrigerated eggs as the cold makes the yolks firmer and much easier to separate.
There are a few ways you can go about separating your egg whites from the yolk. The first is the classic sifting method. Crack the egg cleanly in half and then carefully swap the yolk back and forth between the two halves of the eggshell. Notice as the egg white slowly oozes into the cup or bowl. This is the most common method for separating egg whites. But there’s always a chance for pieces of the eggshell to fall into the bowl. So make sure to double-check.
There are some other methods you can go for if you’re feeling particularly adventurous. You can try sifting the egg white with your hands. Pour the contents of the egg into your hands and let the whites slide between your fingers into the bowl. If that feels too difficult, you can simply crack the egg into a large, slotted spoon and sift the egg white. You can even pour the egg contents into a funnel that will hold the yolk and let the egg white drain into the bowl below.
Also Read: Eggnog Cocktails To Celebrate National Eggnog Day
The Shaking Process
To get that light, airy foam and luscious texture to your cocktail, the process of shaking the ingredients along with the egg white is key. You’ll need to break the proteins of the egg white and trap lots of air. Know that all this will require a decent amount of elbow work, but if you’re good with your hands, that shouldn’t be an issue.
The first step is the ‘dry shake’. Essentially, it is shaking all the ingredients without the addition of ice. The reason for a dry shake is to first allow the egg white to break down properly without it getting diluted by the ice. You’re going to want to dry shake for at least a minute to get that frothy and foamy drink. In case you want to skip this arm workout, drop the spring from the Hawthorne strainer into the shaker and then proceed to shake. The spring will act as an agitator and help froth the egg white faster.
After the dry shake, add ice to the drink and shake for about 30 seconds once again. Double-strain your chilled drink to ensure that you get a nice, clean foam and a smooth drink. The double straining will ensure that there are no gooey egg white strands falling into your drink.
Also Read: Must-Have Cocktail Tools For Your Home Bar
Some Classic Egg White Cocktail Recipes
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of bourbon whiskey
- ¾ ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce of simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- Angostura bitters for garnish
Instructions:
- In a shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and the egg white and dry shake (without ice) for 1 minute.
- Then add ice to the shaker and shake again for about 30 seconds until the drink is chilled.
- Double-strain in a rocks glass and garnish with 3 to 4 drops of Angostura bitters.
Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of gin
- 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce of simple syrup
- 1 egg white
- 1 ounce of club soda, to top
Instructions:
- To a shaker, add the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. Make sure it is a dry shake.
- Then add 3 to 4 ice cubes to the shaker and shake again.
- Double-strain the drink into a chilled Collins glass and top it with club soda. Your gin fizz is ready to serve!
Clover Club Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of gin
- ½ ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce of raspberry syrup
- 1 egg white
- Raspberries for garnish
Instructions:
- Add gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and the egg white with ice to a shaker and shake vigorously for a minute or two, until the drink is chilled.
- Double-strain the cocktail into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Finally, garnish with speared raspberries and place them on the rim of the cocktail glass.
Summing Up
Egg whites in cocktails may seem like an unruly combination, but if you do it right, it certainly can be a match made in heaven! It all comes down to the sifting and shaking of the ingredients to get you that luxurious texture and airy foam on your cocktail. Don’t be too afraid to be adventurous with your drinks, and give the eggs a chance to take your cocktail-making game to a whole new level!
FAQs
What Do Egg Whites Do In A Cocktail?
Egg whites cut through the sharpness of certain citrus drinks as with a Pisco Sour and add to its richness. They also create a light, airy foam on top of the cocktail.
Are Egg Whites Okay In A Cocktail?
Egg whites are definitely okay to use in a cocktail. They are devoid of any flavor, so they do not alter the flavor of the drink. Instead, they add a silky, smooth texture to the drink.
Is It Safe To Drink Raw Egg Whites?
Unless you’re using pasteurized eggs, refrain from drinking raw egg whites. Pasteurized egg whites are safest and you won’t have to worry about food poisoning or having an upset stomach.
Why Do You Dry Shake Egg White Cocktails?
A dry shake is essentially shaking all of the cocktail ingredients without ice. This is done specifically for egg white cocktails to ensure that the egg combines well with the other ingredients and creates a nice foamy texture.
What Are Some Egg White Cocktails?
Cocktails like whiskey sour, pisco sour, gin fizz, clover club cocktail, and white lady cocktail are some of the classic egg white cocktails.
What Parts Of Eggs Can Be Used In Cocktails?
Surprisingly, you can use every portion of the egg, from the egg whites to the yolk to even the entire egg in one cocktail drink! The egg whites though are the popular choice as they do not alter the taste of the drink, while drinks like eggnogs make use of the yolk to add the “eggy” flavor to the drink.
What Can I Use Instead Of Egg Whites In Cocktails?
Aquafaba is the most common egg white substitute. It’s basically the water used to cook chickpeas or other lentils. The starchy water mimics the egg whites in a cocktail and is the vegan route to creating a frothy and foamy drink.
Do You Need Citrus In An Egg White Cocktail?
Yes, you absolutely require citrus in a cocktail with egg whites. In a cocktail with raw egg whites, the citrus, and alcohol act as sterilizing agents in the drink.
