Top 23 French Cocktails

French 75 is a classic cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and champagne. To prepare it, gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup are shaken with ice, strained into a glass, then topped with champagne and garnished with lemon peel. It is believed that the cocktail was invented by Scott Harry McElhone, the owner of Harry’s American Bar in Paris in 1926, who named it after a strong artillery gun used by the French military. Shortly after, American soldiers fell in love with the cocktail and brought it back to the United States, where it was a huge hit, especially at New York City’s famous Stork Club. Although it is said that French 75 was made with cognac instead of gin in its early history, nowadays there are countless ways to prepare variations of this refreshing classic. An interesting fact for movie lovers: French 75 appears in one of the most beloved classics, Michael Curtiz's Casablanca.Expand

Blue Lagoon is a refreshing summer cocktail made with a combination of vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade. In order to prepare it, vodka and curaçao are shaken with ice, then strained into a highball glass filled with ice, and topped with lemonade. The cocktail is typically garnished with an orange or lemon slice before serving. It is believed that Blue Lagoon was invented by Harry MacElhone’s son, Andy, at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris in 1972.Expand

Sometimes described as "Negroni’s long-lost autumnal cousin," Boulevardier is a mixed drink made with a combination of Campari, sweet vermouth, and bourbon or rye whiskey. The ingredients are mixed with ice, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. The cocktail often garnished with a twist of orange peel or a cherry. The first version of Boulevardier can be found in Harry McElhone’s 1927 bar guide, Barflies and Cocktails. This cocktail was the signature drink of Erskine Gwynne, who edited a monthly magazine in Paris, named The Boulevardier.Expand

Earthquake is a cocktail that was supposedly invented by a French painter named Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. It is made with equal parts of absinthe and cognac, although some recipes suggest gin as the third component. As the name suggests, it is called Earthquake because of the powerful effects of this specific alcohol combination, which tends to shake up the consumer. The combination of liquids has to be shaken vigorously before being strained into a martini or brandy glass with ice. Optionally, Earthquake can be garnished with a sugar lump or a lime wheel.Expand

French Connection is a classic French cocktail made with a combination of only two ingredients – equal parts cognac and amaretto. In order to prepare it, the ingredients are poured into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. The concoction is then gently stirred, and the cocktail is ready to be served. French Connection is especially loved because the cognac adds warmth to the chilled drink, and the flavors pair nicely with a high-quality amaretto liqueur. It is recommended to make the cocktail with Courvoisier VSOP, Camus VSOP, or Hennessy VS.Expand

Kir Normand is a variation of the famous Kir, made with a combination of crème de cassis, Calvados, and Normandy cider (instead of wine). In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be poured into a flute glass and stirred. This cocktail can be garnished with an apple twist, if desired. In Normandy, it is usually enjoyed at Christmas and New Year.Expand

Old Pal is a French cocktail made with a combination of Canadian whiskey, Campari, and dry vermouth. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be stirred with ice, then strained into a cocktail glass filled with ice. If desired, this dry and bitter drink can be garnished with an orange slice. It is believed that the first mention of Old Pal appeared in Harry MacElhone’s 1922 book called ABC of Mixing Cocktails, where he credits the editor of the New York Herald, Sparrow Robertson, for the invention of this cocktail.Expand

Kir Breton is a version of the popular French Kir cocktail, and some say it is even better than regular Kir. It is made with a combination of Calvados, crème de cassis, and chilled dry Breton cider. In order to prepare it, Calvados and crème de cassis should first be poured into a champagne flute, followed by cider, which should be slowly poured into the flute as it froths a bit.Expand

Monkey Gland is a French cocktail made with a combination of gin, orange juice, and a few drops of absinthe and grenadine. In order to prepare it, all ingredients should be shaken, then strained into a chilled cocktail glass. The drink was invented by Harry McElhone, the famous owner of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, and he named it after the 1920s experiments done by Serge Voronoff, who wanted to graft monkey glands to human testicles. Although the story about this cocktail’s name is truly odd, it makes for great trivia while drinking Monkey Glands with friends.Expand