This French blonde cocktail recipe uses fresh grapefruit juice to round out elderflower liquor’s bite, creating a sweet, citrusy elegant drink that will brighten up any day.

Has this summer gone by faster than others?  Is it just me?  I can’t believe it’s August already, time has really felt like it is whizzing by at a breakneck pace.  Vacations were taken, last week summer camps were wrapping up, and school is just around the corner.  But not yet!  No!  Summer is still here for a little bit longer.  Let me introduce you to a mixed drink that has been a delicious cocktail go-to this summer around here.  One of our favorite recipes for cocktail time in the summer.  The French Blonde (or the variation – The French Redhead)  is a great drink to add to your summer happy hour.  We have also served this on New Year’s Eve as a festive drink to share with friends.  The bright colors and flavors are a fun contrast to the heavy appetizers and sweet cocktails that are so common during that season.  A French Blonde cocktail, and some Brie with crostini?  Sounds like a fun party to me!

At the heart of the French Blonde cocktail lies a perfect balance of flavors that work together to make a light, refreshing, and surprising cocktail out of simple ingredients.  The delicious sweet/tart balance of the grapefruit juice rounds out the flavors of Lillet Blanc and dry gin. A little splash of Elderflower Liqueur and some lemon bitters give it depth. It’s the perfect drink to enjoy with friends.

French Blonde vs. French Redhead Cocktail.  What is the difference?

French Blonde Cocktail– Grapefruit juice mixed with Lillet Blanc gives the refreshing cocktail a lovely golden blonde color. 

Redheaded French Blonde Cocktail – Uses pink grapefruit juice which makes the cocktail a beautiful pink color. Garnish with thin lemon slices, it’s a great way to switch it up from the original recipe.

How to Make a Classic French Blonde Cocktail: A Step-by-Step Guide 

What is in a French blonde cocktail?

Ingredients

1. Gin: The foundation of this French Blonde is Gin.  The crisp and refreshing Juniper taste forms the base of the cocktail, providing a complex canvas for the other ingredients.

2. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur: To infuse the cocktail with a delicate floral charm, elderflower liqueur is added. This liqueur, crafted from the delicate blossoms of the elderflower plant, imparts a subtle sweetness and unique aroma, with floral notes.

3. Lillet Blanc – A French apéritif wine, is important in this French Blonde Martini by offering a subtly sweet and aromatic element to the overall flavor. 

4. Lemon Juice: To balance the sweetness of the elderflower liqueur, fresh lemon juice is introduced. The zesty citrus notes add a burst of freshness, elevating the drink’s complexity.

5. Fresh Grapefruit Juice, where this simple cocktail gets its color and main flavor component.

6. Garnish: A delicate twist of lemon peel or a few edible flowers crowning the drink not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the aromatic experience.

How to Make a French Blonde (or French Red Head) Cocktail

• Grab an ice-filled cocktail shaker (or a mason jar works just fine) and add the vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, and fresh lemon juice.
• Shake well until the mixture is chilled, and the flavors are blended.
• Strain the contents of the shaker into a  chilled cocktail glass or a martini glass.
• Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or a few delicate edible flowers
• Raise your glass.  Cheers!

The French Blonde Cocktail Variations

While this French Blonde Cocktail recipe is perfect as it is, you can also customize it to your liking. 

• FRENCH BLONDE COCKTAIL WITH VODKA: If you aren’t a fan of botanical gin, a Vodka substitute is an excellent choice. Because it is more neutral in flavor, a few ounces of Vodka does change the flavor profile of this French Blonde drink. However, it’s equally delicious in a different way!  A classic cocktail with a twist!
• FRENCH BLONDE COCKTAIL WITH CHAMBORD: Adding a splash of Chambord (a Raspberry Liqueur) gives this French Blonde cocktail drink recipe a vibrant red color. It also adds a touch of sweetness that balances the tart grapefruit juice and complements the floral Elderflower Liqueur.
• FRENCH BLONDE COCKTAIL WITH BOURBON: This variation on the French Blonde cocktail swaps out the Gin for Bourbon, which gives it a deeper flavor and a bit of a kick. I love Bourbon mixed with both sweet and tart flavors, so I think it works beautifully in this drink!
• FRENCH BLONDE COCKATIL WITH Aperol and Vodka: For an orange twist, try substituting Aperol for the Elderflower and Vodka for the gin. The fruity notes in citrus liqueurs like Aperol are a match made in heaven with the citrus flavors in this drink!

IS THE FRENCH BLONDE COCKTAIL THE SAME THING AS THE PARISIAN BLONDE COCKTAIL?

No, the French Blonde cocktail and the Parisian Blonde Cocktail are very different drinks. The French Blonde is made with Gin, Lillet Blanc, Elderflower Liqueur, grapefruit juice, and lemon bitters. The Parisian Blonde Cocktail is made with Jamaican Rum, Orange Curaçao, and heavy cream.  Delicious, but not the same!

Here are a few other cocktails you might like to try:

Classic Old Fashioned – A Bourbon-based cocktail perfect for sipping with a steak dinner

 Black Currant Martini – Subtly sweet and slightly tart this French Martini recipe with black currant is sure to impress!

Equipment Needed To Make A Cocktail Recipe

To create a classic cocktail, having the right tools at your disposal can be super helpful. Although I believe all cocktail recipes should be accessible without needing special equipment!  Here’s the equipment I recommend and the substitutions if you don’t have it!

• COCKTAIL SHAKER: Having a dependable cocktail shaker will help you mix your cocktail to perfection. If you don’t have one a large jar will work just fine!  Just be careful when shaking because it is glass after all.
• JIGGER: Achieving the perfect balance of flavors in your French Blonde relies on accurate measurements. But a shot glass and/or measuring spoons can help you get your measurements for your cocktail
• CITRUS JUICER: Fresh lemon juice is essential for capturing the vibrant flavor of this French Blonde drink. You can always just use a fork or your hands to juice your citrus – no big deal!
• STRAINER: Straining can help to achieve a perfectly smooth cocktail.  This of course isn’t necessary for the typical at-home bartender but a fine mesh strainer can be used to achieve this.
• COUPE GLASS OR MARTINI GLASS: Selecting the right glassware is a fun part of choosing how to present your French Blonde. But let’s be honest, the ingredients are the same regardless of what glass you choose to serve it in.  🙂
• GARNISH TOOLS: While completely optional, having tools for garnishing can help you add a refined finishing touch to your cocktail presentation. But we typically use a paring knife or a vegetable peeler.

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While not strictly necessary, having the right tools can greatly enhance your cocktail-making experience and help you achieve professional-level results if you’re into that kind of thing. However, if you don’t have special equipment on hand, improvise with what you have at home.  To make a great cocktail (or a great meal!) you don’t need fancy equipment to make it taste fantastic!

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The French Blonde Cocktail | An Easy Drink Recipe

This French blonde cocktail recipe uses fresh grapefruit juice to round out elderflower liquor's bite, creating a sweet, citrusy elegant drink that will brighten up any day

Servings 1 Drink

Ingredients

• ½ oz. elderflower liqueur like St. Germain
• 1 oz. dry gin recommended; like Hendricks
• 2 oz. Lillet Blanc
• 2 oz. grapefruit juice
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• A few dashes of citrus bitters
• Garnish: A delicate twist of lemon peel or a few edible flowers crowning the drink not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the aromatic experience

Instructions

• Grab an ice-filled cocktail shaker (or a mason jar works just fine) and add the vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, and fresh lemon juice.
• Shake well until the mixture is chilled, and the flavors are blended.
• Strain the contents of the shaker into a chilled cocktail glass or a martini glass.
• Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or a few delicate edible flowers.
• Raise your glass. Cheers!

Apparently, this is Taylor Swift’s favorite cocktail!