French Rose Cocktail

Recipe variations and substitutions

If you want to use this French cocktail recipe to inspire your own, or simply don’t have one of the ingredients on hand, we’ve got you covered. Here are some substitutions you can try, per ingredient:  

Gin. Vodka or white rum can be substituted for gin. Just make sure to taste the drink beforehand to see if you want to make any additions to balance out the flavor profile. For instance, vodka does not have the same herbaceous notes as gin, so you might want to add a sprig of thyme or mint to the drink to recreate it.  

Dry vermouth. Dry white wine and sake are often used as substitutions for dry vermouth. Dry sherry and white port can also be used in its stead. 

Cherry brandy. Cherry brandy has quite a distinctive taste, and plays a pivotal role in the taste and assembly of the French Rose cocktail. However, if you don’t like the taste, you can swap it out for regular brandy, whisky or bourbon. This will however make the drink far less sweet, so you may want to consider adding simple syrup if you don’t want to lose the sweet note completely.