Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Best French Cocktails to Satisfy Your Inner Parisian

Mark Stock
By

Cocktail culture is a reflection of the world itself, from the best Italian cocktails to the best champagnes, all with diverse and teeming styles that vary by geography, era, and more. France has to be on the shortlist of mixed drinks powers, a nation known for wine but equally capable of creating utter magic behind the bar.

Settling on the best French cocktails wasn’t easy. We combed through the best cocktail books and chatted up experts from places like Bicylcette Bistro in Los Angeles. We came away with a handsome list that will give you a lasting taste of Paris or Lyon, even if you can’t actually cross the Atlantic in the name of bar hopping. And while we want you to try your hand at making a Sidecar, many of these are easier to make and equally easy to enjoy.

À ta santé!

Calvarac

Calvarac cocktail on table.
Anne Fishbein

(Created by Shawn Lickliter, Bicyclette)

Combining some iconic French elements, like Absinthe (although Switzerland may technically have concocted it first) and Calvados, the Calvarac over-delivers. As you may have guessed, the name reflects part of the Sazerac drink’s inspiration.

Related

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Calvados
  • 1 oz Earl Grey-infused bourbon*
  • .5 oz Strega
  • 1 tsp citrus oleo saccharine
  • 2 dashes Peychaud Bitters
  • 1 dash aromatic bitters
  • Absinthe rinse

Earl Grey-Infused Bourbon:

  1. Combine 25 grams of Earl Grey tea with a bottle (750-ml) of Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon in a non-reactive container.
  2. Let steed for 20 minutes, then fine strain.

Method:

  1. Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
  2. Stir to chill.
  3. Strain into an absinthe rinsed rocks glass.
  4. Express a grapefruit peel and lemon peel over top.

Boulevardier

Boulevardier.
Liquor.com

If you don’t know about the perfect Boulevardier, get to know it. The cocktail is basically a Negroni using to whiskey, concocted in Paris in the early 20th century. It remains a commanding classic among its cocktail peers.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 oz Buffalo Trace Bourbon
  • .75 oz Campari
  • .75 oz Carpano Antica sweet vermouth

Method:

  1. Stir in mixing glass with ice.
  2. Strain over ice and garnish with an orange twist, following its expression.

Kir Royale

Kir Royale cocktail.
Flickr/Alex Brown

The best aperitif cocktails are the simplest ones and the Kir Royale is just that. Make it your go-to as you head into November and December, something to sip while prepping a holiday meal or munching on a cheese plate.

Ingredients:

  • 1 part Crème de Casiss
  • 9 parts Champagne (although any good sparkling wine will do)
  • citrus wheel or berry for garnish

Method:

  1. Add Crème de Cassis to flute and top with Champagne or sparkling wine.
  2. Garnish with citrus wheel or berry.

Le Marais

La Marais cocktail.
Anne Fishbein

(Created by Shawn Lickliter, Bicyclette)

Named after the famous Parisian neighborhood, this cocktail hinges around entrancing Floc de Gasgone, the fortified French sweet wine made from local brandy.

Ingredients:

  • .75 oz Absinthe
  • .75 oz Floc de Gascogne
  • .75 oz orgeat
  • 1 oz lime
  • 1 dash celery bitters
  • 3 cucumber slices

Method:

  1. In a mixing tin, muddle the cucumber with the lime juice.
  2. Add the other ingredients.
  3. Shake with ice and fine strain into a large rocks glass filled with pebble ice.

French 75

French 75.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We adore a good French 75 cocktail, a drink from the first real heyday of the cocktail movement. There’s a good reason why it’s become the signature drink at countless weddings and a favorite of many barkeeps. Try mixing in some Absinthe or Calvados here, as well.

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz Champagne (or sparkling wine)
  • 1 oz gin
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • 2 dashes simple syrup
  • lemon twist for garnish

Method:

  1. Combine all ingredients except wine in tin and shake.
  2. Strain into a chilled flute and top with sparkling wine and stir gently.

French Connection

whiskey in a crystal glass sitting on a rock in front of a fire.
Thomas Park/Unsplash

Named after the legendary film with one of the best car chases even, the French Connection mixes brandy and amaretto. The results are decidedly heavenly.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 parts Cognac
  • 1 part Amaretto (like Disaronno)
  • 2-3 dashes of aromatic bitters

Method:

  1. Fill cocktail glass with ice.
  2. Add Cognac and Amaretto and stir briefly.
  3. Add aromatic bitters.

The Sophisticate

Sophisticate cocktail.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another cheery French number featuring brandy, bubbles, and aromatic liqueur. You’ll want one for brunch, before nap after lunch, and probably over dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 parts D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
  • .75 part St Germain Elderflower Liqueur
  • Top with Prosecco
  • citrus for garnish

Method:

  1. Pour Cognac and liqueur into chilled flute.
  2. Top with Prosecco and garnish with citrus.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Stock
Mark Stock
Contributor
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
The Best Barware for Your Home Bar To Make Amazing Cocktails

We know you have a bar tool or two but what if you need a more extensive setup that goes beyond the wine glasses or the whiskey rocks glass? We've put together some of the best of the best barware products out there that focuses on quality, style, and function. Yes, you can have style AND function. Never let anyone tell you differently.

There are some items that we didn't cover in this list because we just feel they may be unnecessary. For instance, while an ice bucket can look cool, it's really unrealistic because you'll have ice melting faster than you can drink, especially if you're using specialty ice such as spheres, cubes, or cocktail ice. We suppose that if you want a small ice bucket to hold a round's worth of ice, that would work but for us, keep the ice where it belongs, in the cocktail glass.

Read more
The Best Hiking Snacks To Fuel Your Time on the Trail
best hiking snacks the preparation for tomorrow is doing your today

Warmer weather is on the horizon and it's finally time to dust off the hiking gear that’s been hibernating in the back of your closet all winter, and make some hiking snacks that will get you ready to hit the trails. From getting fresh air and exercise to enjoying scenic vistas, hiking is one of the best ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature. But, whether you're taking on one of the most physically challenging hikes in the United States or embarking on a short and simple day hike, it's important to be prepared with the right equipment -- and that includes the best hiking snacks. 

If you're keeping your hike relatively short, there's no need to reach for the dehydrated meals. What you do want are snacks that won’t spoil, don’t take up a ton of space in your backpack, and help you stay energized and feeling good all day long. That means you'll want a mix of carbohydrates and protein, both of which your body needs to perform at its best during the hike and recover properly once you're done. So, stuff your pack with these nutritious, tasty snacks (plus plenty of water, of course) and you'll be ready to hit the trail. Just remember to pack out any wrappers or other trash you brought with you! 

Read more
6 of the Best Espresso Martini Cocktails and a TikTok
Person holding an espresso martini glass placing coffee beans as a garnish.

According to Liquor.com, the Espresso Martini isn’t a martini at all because it isn’t made with gin or vermouth. When taking a deeper dive, it seems that what we call martinis that don't involve gin and vermouth, are nothing more than mixed drinks in a martini glass. Who knew?

Don’t think for a minute that we’re going to change our mind about martinis. Some people just don’t like the taste or flavor of gin and that’s OK. Look, we know there are purists out there and they may have a thing or two to say about how a martini should be made but that’s what test kitchens are for. Experiment with whatever you have on hand. Who knows, you may discover the next TikTok Recipe sensation and go viral.

Read more