Skip to main content
Epicurious

The Rattlesnake

5.0

(1)

Image may contain Lamp Drink Cocktail Alcohol Beverage Glass and Goblet
Photo by Ted Cavanaugh

The double-shake method is key to this cocktail’s texture. The first round is to break up the egg white; the second is to chill and froth the drink.

Cooks' Note

Raw egg is not recommended for the elderly, pregnant women, children under four, and people with weakened immune systems.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 4

Ingredients

½ cup sugar
4 large egg whites (see Cooks' Note), separated individually
8 ounces rye whiskey
4 ounces fresh lemon juice
Pernod or absinthe (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Chill 4 coupe glasses in freezer. Bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cover and chill simple syrup until cold, at least 1 hour.

    Step 2

    For each cocktail, combine 1 egg white, 2 oz. rye whiskey, 1 oz. lemon juice, and ¾ oz. simple syrup into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously (without ice) until mixture is starting to get frothy. Fill shaker with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty and cocktail is frothy, about 20 seconds (yes, a full 20 seconds).

    Step 3

    Rinse a chilled coupe glass with Pernod; discard. Strain cocktail through a fine-mesh sieve into glass.

TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesPernod PastisLiqueurRye WhiskeyWhiskeyLemonCitrusFruit5 Ingredients or FewerBon Appétit

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Green Apple Martini
Call it an appletini if you wish, one thing's for certain: This Jolly-Rancher-hued drink, garnished with a candy-red cherry, is as striking as it is delicious.
Golden Hour
Pleasantly bitter Suze pairs with ginger syrup, sparkling wine, and a piece of candied ginger that fizzes and bubbles from the bottom of the glass.
BA’s Best Old-Fashioned
A classic drink that never goes out of style. Stick with these steps and you’ll nail it every time.
Sake-Grapefruit Fizz
This light and drinkable cocktail pairs the bittersweet flavor of grapefruit with botanical gin and sparkling sake for a bubbly finish.
Caramel Apple Monkey Bread
This irresistible fall treat is studded with spiced apples and draped in cider caramel.
Colossal Crème Brûlée
This oversized crème brûlée is far easier to make than individual ones. The crackly top is created from sugar caramelized with a blowtorch, not a broiler.
Creamy Cider-Braised Chicken and Leeks
A combination of creamy sauce and tender cider-braised chicken makes this a comforting dish equally ideal for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion meal.
Cranberry-Maple Mule
This big-batch cocktail made with ginger beer, cranberry juice, fresh lime, and a spiced maple simple syrup makes the perfect low-alcohol holiday drink.