Taylor Swift’s Favorite “French Blonde” Cocktail Is Love at First Sip

We already know Taylor Swift’s got good taste. Between her iconic chai sugar cookies and love of sourdough to her favorite spaghetti and meatballs, she is a true foodie at heart. So of course, when we read the reports about Swift’s favorite new cocktail— a French Blonde — we couldn’t help but try it ourselves. Now, with news of her engagement to Travis Kelce being all that anyone can talk about, there couldn’t be a more perfect time to make it.

So grab your coupe and your cocktail shaker, and let’s shake … it off. (Couldn’t help myself.)

Get the recipe: French Blonde Cocktail

I first tried a French Blonde cocktail before we had our own recipe. So for this review, I made St. Germain’s version, which was published on TODAY.com.

I stared by adding 1 ounce of Bombay Sapphire gin, 3/4 ounce of St-Germain, 1 1/2 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, 1/2 ounce of Lillet Blanc, and 1 dash of lemon bitters to a cocktail shaker over ice. The next step was to shake until the cocktail shaker was almost too cold to touch (about 15 to 20 seconds). Then I strained it into a coupe or a short tumbler, then garnish with a grapefruit peel.

Our own recipe has the same ingredient list but varies slightly in ratios. Most notably, there’s more Lillet Blanc. And according to Culinary Producer Rachel Permutter, her husband, and the recipe cross-tester, it earned “the most coveted compliments of all: not too sweet.”

I’m really, really into this cocktail. I’m typically more of a wine drinker, so when I find a cocktail I really like, I hold onto it for dear life. The mixture of the sweet St-Germain and refreshing Lillet Blanc with the tart grapefruit juice and the lemon bitters is just, chef’s kiss good. Adding that grapefruit peel garnish also adds to that sensory experience of the cocktail — giving you a whiff of grapefruit as you sip on that sweet drink. Absolutely delightful.

I see why Swift loves this one so much, and I really hope bartenders will know the drink when I ask for it next time I’m out.

• Double strain the drink: Straining your drink over another barfly fine mesh strainer really is the key for having a smooth, delicate drink such as the French Blonde. It strips away any excess grapefruit pulp and little pieces of ice that might have otherwise been in your beverage. This is my preferred method for serving a shaken drink that is “up” instead of “on the rocks” (a.k.a., on ice).
• Play with the garnish: While I went by the book and served my French Blonde with a grapefruit peel, you could play around with the garnish of this beverage! Add a thin slice of grapefruit instead, or play around with another citrus like lemon or blood orange. You could also add in little flowers for the ultimate Instagram-worthy shot!