Be a Little Extra With These 12 French Cocktails

Raise a glass to the French and their cocktail-creating genius with some classic French cocktails. Many of these recipes are super simple, but that’s exactly the point. Drinking is the ultimate social experience and sitting around a table donned with delicious food and drinks as the hours tick by is a totally legit French pastime that everyone enjoys.  

The best part of these famous French cocktails is that you don’t need to understand French to make these easy recipes. So un, deux, trois, let’s take a boozy trip to France!  

1. French Martini

Fruity and fresh, the French Martini is a pre-dinner drink for those with a sweet tooth. Made with black raspberry liqueur, pineapple and vodka, this pink drink is a spin-off of the Vodka Martini. As far as classic French cocktails go, this fruit-flavoured martini is one of the easiest to pull off in just four simple steps. Choose this cocktail if you have a romantic evening planned, for wedding parties and any French-themed occasion that calls for something special.  

TOP TIP! Serve your French Martini with a slice of Grand Marnier cake for a bit of extra indulgence. This gorgeous dessert is fluffy, moist, and elegant. Its orange flavor is enriched by a filling of orange zest and crunchy pecans, topped off with a delicious orange liqueur sauce. Find the recipe HERE.

2. French Connection Cocktail

While many believe the French to be some of the best drinkers in the world, we’ll let you in on a secret. They’re not actually better at drinking, they just drink more slowly!   

The French Connection Cocktail is an ideal slow sipper to enjoy on a cold evening. This two-ingredient cocktail is very much a case of quality over quantity, and when you shake up these famous French cocktails, you’ll want to use the best ingredients you can find.  

Made with equal parts cognac and amaretto, it’s a match made in French heaven. Flavour-wise, the amaretto adds a sweet nutty taste while the cognac adds warmth and body. Many people find this cocktail overly sweet, so if you prefer a drier version, add more cognac than amaretto. Served on the rocks or neat if you prefer, it’s a sophisticated nightcap to end the evening. 

3. French 75 Cocktail

Named after the 75mm gun used in World War I, these classic French cocktails pack a punch. The recipe was created in New York and is made with gin, champagne, lemon juice and simple syrup shaken with ice and strained into a sugar-rimmed flute or martini glass. Best served icy cold, the French 75 cocktail is easy to make into a batch and will add a bit of joie de vivre during a slow brunch or lunch with good friends. 

4. French Pearl Cocktail

Botanical and sweet, these classic French cocktails are made with gin and absinthe, balanced by the addition of mint and rounded off with the citrus notes of freshly squeezed lime.  

Named for its colour once poured, the French Pearl cocktail pays tribute to the late 1800s when it was still très à la mode to sip on absinthe—a time that many refer to as the golden age of cocktail making (and drinking). 

5. French Maid Cocktail

The French Maid Cocktail is made with cognac, cucumber, mint, falernum liqueur and ginger beer. In our opinion, it tastes like summer in a glass and is possibly one of the best French cocktails you’ll ever make.   

Discerning cocktail drinkers might not think that cognac and ginger beer belong together, but trust us on this. The addition of falernum liqueur (a spiced syrup that shot to fame in tiki cocktail culture) makes a herbal, sweet and spicy cocktail that is super refreshing and easy to drink.   

6. French Rose Cocktail

When it comes to cocktail making, the French like to keep things stylishly simple. The French Rose cocktail is a three-ingredient beauty that might remind you of the colour and fragrance of the flower of the same name.  

These famous French cocktails are made with gin, dry vermouth and cherry brandy, and you should expect a drink that bursts with floral notes and hints of sweetness. To add even more je ne sais quoi, garnish with edible gold leaf for special occasions. A beautiful and fragrant celebration of summer, served in a glass.  

7. Mimosa Cocktails

After the Bloody Mary, the Mimosa is probably one of the most iconic brunch cocktails and it couldn’t be simpler to make. All you will need to make these French cocktails is decent bubbly and fresh orange juice in equal parts, and voila! The simplicity of this cocktail has inspired many variations so you can mix it up and surprise your guests with Mimosas that have different twists and turns.  

Upgrade your Mimosa cocktail by using grapefruit juice instead of orange, add some sass by including a dash of triple sec to the original recipe, or give it a flash of colour with the addition of pomegranate liqueur and cranberry juice. We have loads of interesting Mimosa cocktail recipes you can serve at your next brunch to really impress and satisfy your guests.  

8. Kir Royale

The classic Kir Royale is a beautiful combination of champagne and crème de cassis and has been around for ages. It’s a fine balancing act to get the flavour just right. The addition of the popular sweet and dark blackcurrant liqueur should complement the champagne—not overpower it. As is usually the case with two-ingredient cocktails, you will have to play around to see how much berry flavour you would like to add. If you get it right, you’ll be left with a lovely dry sparkling drink with hints of berry.  

Make these famous French cocktails by adding a dash of crème de cassis to a champagne flute or coupe. Top it up with very cold champagne and drop in a few raspberries for a little extra razzle dazzle. A wonderful cocktail for any festive occasion.  

9. 1789

Pay homage to Parisian legacy with a 1789 cocktail—the year of the French revolution and the storming of Bastille. This is another easy cocktail made with just three ingredients: white wine, whiskey and Lillet Blanc (a sweet citrus-flavoured French aperitif).  

It may seem odd to combine wine and whiskey, but it’s the addition of the Lillet that adds sweetness and balance that just makes sense. Serve these classic French cocktails for Bastille Day, or any French-themed evening on your calendar.  

10. Sidecar

One classic cocktail that has stood the test of time is the Sidecar, and there’s a good reason why it has remained popular for over a century—it’s downright delicious! If you’re a newcomer to the world of French cocktails, the Sidecar is a must-try. This tangy and citrusy drink is incredibly easy to make, requiring just three simple ingredients. Even if you’re a beginner, there’s no need to fret about making mistakes.   

11. Boulevardier

Invented by an American socialite living in Paris, the Boulevardier is the best rye cocktail to come out of the roaring 20s. It’s based on the ever-popular Negroni and follows the same formula of equal parts Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth. But instead of gin, it uses whiskey— either rye or bourbon. The rye version smacks of spicy, peppery goodness that accentuates the bitter orange flavour of Campari, and the sweet herbal punch of vermouth. The Boulevardier is a deeply satisfying cocktail, and one just never seems to be enough.  

You also might like: 15 Winter Whiskey Cocktails

12. Between the Sheets

To make a beguiling Between the Sheets cocktail, combine 30ml Cognac, 30ml rum, 30ml Grand Marnier, and 15ml lemon juice in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with an orange twist and serve. 

Other nationalities to explore: Italian | Mexican | Indian | Irish | British

TOP TIP! French canapé pairings

Here are a few of our favourite French-themed canapés to serve with these amazing cocktails:

French Martini

• Miniature cheese and ham quiches
• Brie cheese with baguette slices
• Smoked salmon on toast points

French Connection

• Escargot with garlic butter
• Beef tartare with crostini
• Gruyère cheese and caramelised onion tartlets

French 75

• Oysters on the half shell
• Lemon and thyme chicken skewers
• Goat cheese and walnut-stuffed mushrooms

French Pearl

• Grilled shrimp with a garlic and herb marinade
• Prosciutto-wrapped melon bites
• Ratatouille-stuffed cherry tomatoes

French Maid

• Miniature croque monsieur sandwiches
• Spinach and feta stuffed phyllo triangles
• Ratatouille bruschetta

French Rose

• Fresh strawberries with whipped cream
• French cheese plate with grapes and honey
• Endive boats with herbed goat cheese and walnuts

Mimosa

• Smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheels
• Miniature quiche Lorraine
• Fruit skewers with a yogurt dipping sauce

Kir Royale

• Gougères (cheese puffs)
• Fig and goat cheese crostini
• Cucumber and smoked salmon bites

1789

• Foie gras mousse on toasted brioche
• Miniature beef Wellingtons
• Truffle-infused deviled eggs

Sidecar

• Crispy duck spring rolls
• Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese
• Mushroom and gruyère tarts

Boulevardier

• Duck rillettes on crusty baguette
• Charcuterie board with assorted cured meats
• Blue cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto

Between the Sheets

• Chicken liver pâté on toasted baguette
• Miniature crab cakes with remoulade sauce
• Gorgonzola-stuffed mushrooms

These pairings should complement the flavours of the cocktails and enhance your French-themed canapé experience. Enjoy!

Read more: 11 Perfect Cocktail Party Canapés for any Occasion