French Blonde Cocktail

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

Sweet, floral and tart, the French Blonde is a light and tasty Parisian treat.

The RECORD button was pressed down dramatically, and the tape began to spin and hiss. My subject sat across the table, swishing their drink around, sipping occasionally. After each gulp came an exaggerated “AHHHHHHHH…”

I nodded, ready to take notes. This should be the scoop of the century. My mysterious guest started to speak.

“Taylor Swift was my greatest love, the love of my life, in fact. We were married, and lived in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Tokyo Disneyland. We also kept a summer home at the Phantom Manor in Paris, and vacationed under the sea.”

My face crinkled up into a painful, disbelieving expression. I attempted to interject. “Excuse me, but there’s some inaccuracies to your-”

They ignored me. “And when she dumped me, because I loved her too much and even invented a cocktail in her honor—her favorite one, I might add—do you think she did me the honor of writing a whole album about me? Did I get a song? Am I immortalized in one of her brilliant pop masterpieces? No! And I was iconic! I invented friendship bracelets! I was-“

I cut them off. “Which drink was this?”

“Oh! The French Blonde. Gin, Lillet Blanc, St-Germain, pineapple and lemon juice… served up like a Cosmo. I totally created it, and she loved it when I made them for her. She declared my invention was genius, and it was all she would imbibe. She also told me that Lady Gaga loved them too, and me as a result.”

Skeptical, I referred to my research. “Ummm… according to my notes, the French Blonde is inspired by the gin and champagne cocktail the French 75. It has supposedly existed in various forms since the 1920s, when it was originally created in Paris, France.”

Their face remained stoic, their demeanor unchanged. They spoke with an even tone. “Okay… Here’s what I think happened.”

Suddenly, their body turned sharply, their heels screeching on the floor. Bolting out the door without a further word, my subject disappeared. I was then left alone, listening to their scrambling footsteps, running away from me down the hall.

What Is The Best Gin To Use In A French Blonde Cocktail?

When finding a gin to pair with the Lillet Blanc and St-Germain that’s used in this drink, a London Dry is ideal. The citrusy, juniper-forward notes from something like a No.3, Bombay Sapphire or Tanqueray will blend nicely with the other spirits, as well as the grapefruit and lemon juice, creating a balanced and easy-to-drink tipple.

WHAT GLASSWARE AND GARNISH IS USED?

To properly enjoy this drink, chill a cocktail coupe in the freezer for up to thirty minutes before serving, and garnish with a lemon peel.

IS THIS REALLY TAYLOR SWIFT’S FAVORITE COCKTAIL?

It is “rumored” to be one of both Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s favorite drinks. The next time I hang out with them, I’ll be sure to ask. Stay tuned…

Similar Cocktails To The French Blonde

If you feel that Taylor Swift knows a thing or two about a tasty tipple, then you’ll be happy to discover there’s another drink she enjoys that we feature here at Twist & Toast. Check it out below, then try out some of the other recipes I’ve listed. If you liked the French Blonde, you might enjoy these, too.

• Tay-Tini – Said to be invented by Taylor herself!
• Cosmopolitan – A trendy, sweet and colorful drink that was all the rage in the late 1990s.
• Brass Monkey – Born in the 1970s, but made famous by the Beastie Boys in the 1980s.
• Naked and Famous – Christened after lyrics in a Tricky song, this decadent elixir always gets the party going.