This uniquely delicious variation on a gin sour, the Bachelor Pad is sweet, frothy, and citrusy, and comes from The Dead Rabbit, voted the world’s best bar two years running.

The backbone of the Bachelor Pad is a good gin, preferably one with a floral character and some citrus notes, like Bruicchladdich’s “The Botanist”. Cream sherry, a sweeter, darker, and more luscious variety of the classic Spanish fortified wine, along with poppy seed syrup, brings a sweet, nutty dimension to the cocktail. Complementary bright citrus notes come from Combier Pamplemousse Rose, a fragrant fruit liqueur that tastes of ripe red grapefruit, and a little fresh lemon juice. Finally, an egg white is added to lighten and froth up the drink.

Be sure to “dry shake” all the ingredients first, which ensures the egg white will be fully incorporated and properly foamy, before adding ice and shaking again to chill the drink. And of course, since the egg white is consumed raw, make sure your eggs come from a trusted, safe, organic source.

Gin up even more enthusiasm for cocktail hour with our Perfect Gin Martini recipe, and our Bramble recipe.

  • Yields: 1 drink
  • Total: 5 min 
  • Active: 5 min

Ingredients (10)

For the poppy seed syrup:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon ground poppy seeds

For the Bachelor Pad:

  • 1/2 ounce Alvear Pale Cream Sherry
  • 1/2 ounce Combier Pamplemousse Rose
  • 3/4 ounce lemon juice
  • 3/4 ounce poppy seed syrup
  • 2 ounces Bruicchladdich “The Botanist” Islay Dry Gin
  • egg white
  • crushed ice

Instructions

To make the poppy seed syrup:

  1. Combine the sugar, water, and poppy seeds in a saucepan over medium-high heat and stir until sugar is dissolved. When the mixture reaches a roiling boil, remove from the heat and allow to cool.
  2. Strain the poppy seeds from the cooled syrup and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

To make the Bachelor Pad:

  1. Combine the cream sherry, Combier Pamplemousse Rose, lemon juice, poppy seed syrup, gin, and egg white in a cocktail shaker and vigorously shake for 15 to 20 seconds. This is the “dry shake” step.
  2. Add a scant handful of crushed ice to the shaker and shake again for 15 seconds.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe and serve.