French Blonde
COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS:
- 30 ml London Dry Gin
- 60 ml Lillet Blanc
- 30 ml Elderflower Liqueur
- 75 ml Fresh Grapefruit Juice
- 1 Dash of Citrus Bitters
GARNISH:
- Grapefruit Twist
- Edible Flower
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
• Add ice and shake until chilled.
• Double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
• Garnish with a grapefruit twist and an edible flower.
Cocktail author: history of this cocktail is conflicted. Some sources trace its origins to the 1920’s while other insist it is a modern creation.
French Blonde is a cocktail, that only recently received a lot more spotlight, than usual. I will leave it up to you, to research why is that. Suffice to say, I haven’t encountered this cocktail before and was kind of curious, what all the fuss is about. So, I decided to give it a go. After further research I found out, that there are many subtle variations of this cocktail adjusting specs in different ways, so this recipe might not be the best, but it is a good starting point.
Cocktail is mostly built around two ingredients: Lillet Blanc and grapefruit juice. Lillet brings light floral notes balanced by a touch of bitterness, while grapefruit contributes refreshing bitter-sweet citrusy tartness. Floral qualities of the cocktail are then further emphasized by the elderflower liqueur with subtle sweet tones of elderflower and honeysuckle, helping to balance the generous amount of grapefruit juice. Gin, raises the proof of the cocktail and adds those familiar juniper notes, which seem to blend in seamlessly with other ingredients, perhaps even disappearing in the background a bit. Citrus bitters, as a final touch, bind the ingredients and individual notes together into a cohesive whole.
French Blond is a light and refreshing spring / summer style cocktail, that I’m sure will be a hit with many guests. On the other hand, in my opinion, specs of this particular riff might need a little tuning. Don’t get me wrong, it was tasty, but I think it has a potential to be even more delicious. So, I will definitely be returning to it.