How To Make Cocktails With Egg Whites – Is This Safe?

Why Would You Want To Make Cocktails With Egg Whites?

Did you know that some of your favorite drinks have egg white in them? Making cocktails with egg whites has a delicious outcome but is it safe to drink? Let’s explore the answer and show you how to make some frothy cocktails.

Is It Safe To Use Raw Egg White In Cocktail Recipes?

The idea of making cocktails with egg whites always sounded wrong to me because of the whole salmonella thing. Are these cocktails safe?

Pasteurized eggs come from Chickens that have usually been vaccinated against Salmonella. This layer of protection makes it safer for you to enjoy your cocktails. But keep in mind there is always the risk.

Care should be taken on which eggs to use. You should use a fresh egg for the cocktail-making process. Just like when you are making a cocktail you want to use the best alcohol possible (better products bring better flavor).

If you are still concerned, you can pasteurize your own eggs by covering them in a pan of water and heating them to 140 degrees for 3 minutes. After 3 minutes rinse them in cold water.

When you are making your cocktails you should always break your eggs into another container. You don’t want to accidentally get yolk into your drink and you want to keep everything clean.

Why Do People Put Eggs In Drinks?

When you top your cocktail with egg white it will soften the taste and this will allow the silky richness of the drink to fill your palate. 

Adding egg white will make your drink feel lighter and the foam on the top gives a multi-dimensional look to your drink which is very appealing.

Keep in mind that you should only add egg white to a drink that is shaken. You cannot create the correct effect with a stirred drink.

Two Ways to Make The Foam (Dry Shake and Reverse Dry Shake)

There are two ways to shake the egg white in your cocktails. Either way, once you have shaken your drink you will be able to watch the egg-white foam rise to the top of the drink just like magic.

How To Dry Shake A Cocktail

The first way to shake egg white is without ice which is called a dry shake. This is said to make for a better emulsifying process and gives a more distinctive foamy head than if you used ice.

How To Reverse Dry Shake A Cocktail

The second way to shake egg white is the reverse dry shake. With this technique, you will fill all of the ingredients minus the egg in the shaker with ice. Shake to mix and chill. 

Next, you will strain your mixture out of the shaker to dump the ice out. Add liquid back to shaker and add egg white. Shake vigorously and you will notice the beautiful layer of froth.

Both ways produce a wonderful foam atop your drink. I found it best to try each way and see what your preference is.

What Are The Best Cocktails With Egg Whites?

Here are my favorite recipes that use egg whites. I could have chosen so many but decided to choose the more common ones I think you will enjoy.

Whiskey Sour Cocktail Recipe

This is a common cocktail enjoyed with egg whites. I prefer the Amaretto sour (recipe below) because it adds a little more sweetness. But there is nothing like the rich depth of the right Bourbon in this drink.

2 oz Bourbon

1 oz Simple Syrup

1 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

2 Tbsp Egg Whites

Garnish with Orange Peel or  Lemon Peel and Luxardo Cherry

Shake ingredients without ice for 10 seconds (dry shake). Add ice and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Pour into glass and garnish. 

Pisco Sour Cocktail Recipe

This is a popular drink that comes from Peru. This potent drink has a slight citrus taste and because it is sour and sweet (which are two of my favorite combos) I love it.

(If you have never heard of Pisco, it is an unaged brandy, made with grapes but it reminds me more of tequila)

2 ½ oz Pisco

1 ½  oz Fresh Squeezed Key Lime Juice

1 oz Simple Syrup

½ oz egg white (approximately one egg)

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Combine all the ingredients except for Angusura Bitters (dry shake) into a cocktail shaker without ice. Shake vigorously to chill. Then add ice and shake again for 30 seconds. Next, strain it into an old-fashioned glass. Top with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters. Enjoy!

Gin Fizz Cocktail Recipe

I really enjoy Hendricks Gin and I always love to find a drink that I can incorporate it with.

2 oz Gin (I prefer Hendricks)

¾ oz Lemon Juice

½ oz Simple Syrup

1 egg white

Soda Water

Lemon for garnish

Place the Gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice (reverse dry shake). Shake vigorously then remove the ice, add egg white and shake again. Strain into a glass and top with soda water and garnish with lemon. Cheers! 

Amaretto Sour Cocktail Recipe

I have always loved the smell and taste of Amaretto. This drink always hits the spot for me!

1 ½ oz Amaretto

1 oz Bourbon

1 oz Lemon Juice

1 tsp Simple Syrup

1 Egg White

2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Garnish With a Cherry or Orange Slice (or both)

Place Amaretto, Bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice (reverse dry shake). Shake the mixture to chill then remove the ice from the shaker. Next, add egg white and shake vigorously again. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass and garnish. Delish!

Ready To Put Your Extraordinary Egg-Shaking And Separating Skills To The Test In Your Own Frothy Cocktail?

I would like to know your opinion about egg white cocktails. Did you even know that the frothy layer on some of your drinks was even egg white? Are you ready to try it in your home bar?

Comment below with your answers and as always check out my other stories and recipes in the future by visiting NextCocktails!