The egg yolk sounds unusual, but it turns three citrus juices into something smooth and velvety, like a light orange custard with a tart finish. Grenadine gives it a warm apricot colour.
2 oz
orange juice
½ oz
lemon juice
½ oz
lime juice
¼ oz
grenadine
1
egg yolk very fresh
Garnish: Orange twist and cherry · Ice: Served up, no ice
Pussyfoot
Silky and rich for a juice drink, with sweet orange, sharp lemon and lime, and a gentle grenadine fruitiness. Smooth, tangy and light.
The Pussyfoot is one of the oldest alcohol-free drinks with a name and a place in cocktail history. It is usually attributed to Robert Vermeire, a Belgian bartender who worked at the Embassy Club in London and included it in his 1922 book Cocktails: How to Mix Them.
The name is widely said to refer to William E. Johnson, an American temperance campaigner known as "Pussyfoot" Johnson, who toured Britain after the First World War to argue for prohibition there. Naming a drink without alcohol after him was a joke at his expense, but the recipe itself has survived: citrus, grenadine and egg yolk, shaken until smooth. Some later versions leave out the egg or replace it with cream.
It is widely said to be named after William E. "Pussyfoot" Johnson, an American prohibition campaigner active in Britain after the First World War.
Very fresh or pasteurised eggs keep the risk low. People who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system should use pasteurised egg or leave it out.
Yes. It will be thinner and less rich, but still a pleasant citrus drink. Cream is the classic substitute.
The perfect sound
A sly, playful drink for a stylish evening.
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