French Blonde Cocktail

I love reading about celebrities’ favorite things. Not because I care so much about the individual person, but because they are like, really rich. And if you can buy anything you want and you still pick something in my budget (advertisements aside) — lets just say I’m listening, whether it’s lip balm or a favorite cutting board. So when I heard the French blonde was Taylor Swift’s favorite cocktail, I thought it was at least worth a try.

Whether you’re a fan of her music or not, this drink is a star. It’s light, a little fruity, and a touch floral, with just a touch of bitter complexity. It goes down very smooth — maybe a little too smooth, between you and me. And among myself, my fiancé, and my recipe cross tester, it earned what I consider one the most coveted compliments of all: not too sweet.

It does contain three different types of alcohol (Elderflower liqueur, Lillet Blanc, and gin), which I do sometimes find annoying when it comes to cocktails at home, However, the bottles in this recipe are all great in their own right — I don’t think you’ll have a hard time incorporating them into other things. Read on for more ideas, but I quite enjoy any of them over ice with seltzer and a slice of whatever citrus I have on hand.

I plan to serve this cocktail batched for my next girls night in, because I can’t wait to spread the word: the French blonde is a top-tier cocktail.

• She’s a stunner! This cocktail is easy to make, but it looks and feels quite special with its blushy color and grapefruit peel garnish in a chilled coupe glass.
• It’s star-approved. Taylor Swift, a woman who can have literally any drink she wants, is ordering another one of these.

• Grapefruit: Oro Blanco (white grapefruit) will give you the palest, blondest color, but regular pink grapefruit tastes just as good and lends a pale, peachy hue. It’s worth it to squeeze the juice yourself for the best flavor. Don’t forget to grab a strip of the peel before juicing so you have a garnish.
• Lillet Blanc: An aromatic, fortified French wine that has a refreshing, lightly fruity flavor.
• Gin: A London dry gin is traditional, but I like a citrus-forward variety like new-school Future Gin or classic Plymouth.
• Elderflower liqueur: Sweet and lightly floral elderflower liqueurs, such as St. Germain, are worth a spot on your bar — the flavor profile goes well with gin, vodka, and wine cocktails.
• Lemon bitters: Aromatic lemon bitters (made from the citrus peel) add depth to the cocktail. If you can’t find any, a little fresh lemon juice isn’t a perfect substitute, but will still taste great.

1. Chill your glass. Place a coupe or martini glass in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 5 minutes. Even if it’s just for the time you’re making the cocktail, it makes a difference!
2. Build the cocktail. Place grapefruit juice, Lillet Blanc, dry gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon bitters or lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice, seal, and shake until the outside of the shaker is very frosty.
3. Garnish and serve. Pour the cocktail through a strainer into the glass. Garnish with a strip of fresh grapefruit peel.

• If you aren’t a fan of gin, you can use your favorite vodka instead or even try blanco tequila.
• Add a splash of prosecco to the glass before serving for a bubbly touch.
• Try using blood orange juice or ruby red grapefruit juice for a rosy, reddish hue — a French redhead, if you will.

You can batch French Blonde cocktails for a party by following this ratio: 1 (750-milliliter) bottle Lillet Blanc, 3 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, 1 (375-milliliter) bottle dry gin, 1 (200-milliliter) bottle elderflower liqueur, and 4 1/2 teaspoons lemon bitters or 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. 

Combine everything in a bottle and chill until serving. That’s enough for about 12 cocktails. Set out ice and garnishes on the side and let people serve themselves!

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