French Blonde
A bright, elegant martini that layers gin, elderflower, grapefruit, and Lillet Blanc for a floral, citrus-forward cocktail with effortless sophistication.
Because every drink deserves a beautiful moment.
Ingredients
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
2 ounces Lillet Blanc
1 ounce gin
½ ounce elderflower liqueur
3 dashes lemon bitters
Grapefruit peel
Instructions
Place a coupe glass in the freezer for 5 minutes.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the grapefruit juice, Lillet Blanc, gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon bitters.
Shake vigorously for 15–20 seconds until well chilled.
Double strain into the chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a grapefruit peel.
Notes from the Bar
Lemon Bitters swap
If you don’t have lemon bitters, substitute ½ ounce of fresh lemon juice. The drink will taste a little brighter and more citrus-forward, while bitters add a subtle complexity and depth.
No Lillet Blanc?
Lillet Blanc can be hard to find. Cocchi Americano or dry vermouth both make good stand-ins without changing the drink too much.
Elderflower Liqueur
We use St-Germain in this cocktail. Most liquor stores carry a smaller 375ml bottle, which is perfect if you don’t use it often.
Choose Your Glassware
Serve in a chilled coupe glass for the most elegant presentation. A Nick & Nora glass also works well if that’s what you have on hand.
Garnish Options
A grapefruit peel adds a lovely aroma with each sip. If you don’t have grapefruit, try a lemon twist instead.
Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.
until next time, keep the spirit high and the company good,
Kevin & Kate
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