Shake Up Your Spring: 3 Egg White Cocktails to Hunt Down This Easter

This past weekend had us longing for spring: sunny sidewalks, a warm breeze, and the kind of weather that practically begs for a good drink - prime time for cocktails that feel light, festive, and just a little indulgent.

Enter: Cocktails with egg whites!

Not just for omelets or decorative dye jobs, egg whites are the not-so-hidden gem (call it a cocktail Easter egg?) that can transform your drink from decent to downright divine. They bring a silky texture and that cloud-like foam top that looks as good as it tastes. It's all about that soft, smooth finish, like a cashmere sweater for your taste buds.

Do you want the same fabulous texture in your cocktail but feel a little hesitant about using egg whites? In recent years, bartenders have embraced aquafaba, the liquid from cooking chickpeas, as a near-miraculous substitute. First popularized by vegan bakers in the early 2010s, it quickly made its way into cocktails thanks to its ability to mimic egg whites almost perfectly. But why does this work, you ask? Aquafaba contains proteins and starches that create a stable, frothy foam when shaken, ideal for adding that same creamy texture and beautiful head to drinks, no egg required. Just strain the liquid from canned chickpeas and use about ½ to ¾ ounce instead of an egg white.

Here are three classic egg white cocktails that deserve a spot at your spring table, picnic blanket, or post-egg-hunt wind-down:

1. The Gin Fizz: Bubbly, Bright, and Effortlessly Fancy

Think of the Gin Fizz as the laid-back cousin of the famously extra Ramos Gin Fizz. It's bubbly, citrusy, and way less work. Plus, the foam it creates rises like a little cloud, like a grown-up Peep (but way more chic).

Recipe:

• 2 oz gin
• ¾ oz Cheeky Lemon Juice
• ¾ oz Cheeky Simple Syrup
• ½ oz egg white
• Club soda to fill

How to make it:

1. Dry shake all ingredients except club soda for 15 seconds. (Dry shaking is shaking without ice to emulsify the ingredients)
2. Shake again with ice.
3. Strain into a tall glass without ice, and top slowly with club soda.
4. Watch the foam do its thing! Optionally garnish with an orange twist for a delightful, citrusy aroma:)

2. The Whiskey Sour: A Classic with a Creamy Twist

The Whiskey Sour is tart, smooth, and deeply satisfying, and the egg white gives the drink a pillowy texture and softens the lemon's sharpness.

Recipe:

• 2 oz bourbon
• ¾ oz Cheeky Lemon Juice
• ¾ oz Cheeky Simple Syrup
• ½ oz egg white (or aquafaba if you prefer a vegan alternative)

How to make it:

1. Dry shake (no ice) all ingredients for 15 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake again until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over ice or serve it up (no ice) in a coupe.
4. Garnish with a few dashes of aromatic bitters or with a lemon twist if you're feeling fresh.

3. The Clover Club: Pretty in Pink, Strong at Heart

This one's got Easter brunch written all over it - bright, floral, and almost too pretty to drink. Almost  The Clover Club combines gin, raspberry, and lemon into a bright, fruity, balanced cocktail.

Recipe:

• 1½ oz gin
• ½ oz dry vermouth
• ¾ oz Cheeky Simple Syrup
• ¾ oz Cheeky Lemon Juice
• 4-5 Raspberries
• ½ oz egg white

How to make it:

1. Muddle the raspberries in the bottom of your shaker. Add all other ingredients and dry shake.
2. Add ice, shake again, and double strain (through a fine mesh strainer) into a coupe glass.
3. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

Whether you're hosting a spring get-together or just vibing solo with a cocktail and some easter candy, these cocktails showcase how a single ingredient can add texture and a full-bodied mouthfeel to your recipes.

So go ahead: crack a few eggs, shake things up, and feel free to riff on these recipes! You can swap spirits, citrus, syrups, or fresh fruit components to create your signature cocktails without all the work.