French Blonde Cocktail Recipe

Rating: 4.0/5. From 6 reviews.
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PREP TIME 5 min

Cocktail Type

Vodka

Great for

Spring

Difficulty

Easy

Two French Blonde Cocktails with grapefruit garnish

The French Blonde Cocktail recipe is like a striking, yet mysterious fair-haired woman who steps into a room with a sweet smile, smelling of oranges and then… promptly disappears – leaving onlookers to wonder if they imagined this beautiful vision who nevertheless left a lingering presence that sparkles with inexplicable joy. 

Okay, so we might have stepped into overly poetic territory there, but the French Blonde Cocktail will do that to you. See, this beguiling citrus-based drink has no clear origin. It’s a classic cocktail with a retro name, so you’d imagine that someone would have laid claim to it by now, but no dice – its history remains shrouded in mystery even as its popularity soars. 

However, a cocktail does not need a mile-long pedigree to create a splash. It can simply take its place in the limelight based on its sheer zesty deliciousness. So, do give this mysterious little drink a try…   

French Blonde Cocktail Recipe & Step-by-Step Directions

The French Blonde walks a delicious line between sweet and tart that runs like a golden ribbon through the vodka and elderflower liqueur, tied into a pretty little bow by the grapefruit juice and bitters that gives it some nice depth of flavour. Here’s how you do: 

QUICK TIPS

01

What puts this amazing drink over the top is if you squeeze the grapefruit and lemon juice yourself

02

If you love a little sparkle in your life, make this drink your own by adding some bubbles

03

Make the drink your own by using a different liqueur, like orange or blackberry!

04

Serve it up with French snacks like croissants and brie for a thematic tie-in…

INGREDIENTS

MAKE FOR

1 Person

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

Elderflower liqueur
2 Oz

60 Ml

2 Parts

Fresh grapefruit juice
1
Teaspoon lemon juice
1
Dash of bitters
Grapefruit slices to garnish
Ice

INSTRUCTIONS

01

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the grapefruit juice, vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and bitters, and shake well

02

Strain into a chilled serving glass

03

Garnish with a grapefruit slice, and serve

Top tips to make the perfect French Blonde Cocktail

Squeeze the juice yourself, mon amour. Store-bought juice will also get the job done, but there is just something marvelous about the freshness of freshly-squeezed citrus juice that adds brightness to a cocktail like you would not believe.  Just remember to run the juice through a fine-mesh strainer or squeeze it through a muslin cloth before you make your cocktail to ensure that you catch any fibers that might remain.  

Add some sparkle! You can either charge the drink with some club soda, which will bring the ABV down as well, or you could push out the boat and add a little Champagne for some extra pizzazz. 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The French Blonde cocktail is a drink that features SKYY Vodka, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and bitters as ingredients.  

The term 'blonde' is used in different ways as it pertains to different drinks. In terms of coffee, a blonde drink (such as a latte or cappuccino) refers to a hot beverage that was made using beans that are lighter roasted than conventional coffee beans. When it comes to cocktails, the term 'blonde' is often part of a colloquial name that is given to a particular mixed drink, such as the French Blonde Cocktail.