The French certainly know their food, but how about their cocktails? Of course, they do. Many of the cocktails we enjoy with our very American brunch come straight out of Paris.
Even if you can’t get to France right now, you can experience its culture by trying one of them. They are super easy, but if you have any difficulties, award-winning author David Lebovitz can guide you through. His book, Drinking French, is love letter to French Spirits and cocktails!
Easy French Cocktails
You can discuss its origins while making the Sidecar. Whether it was born at the Ritz Paris or Harry's Bar Paris or in London, we don't care. As it's made with the very French cognac and Cointreau, we are voting for France!
Yes, the Bloody Mary, a brunch favorite, was invented by a Frenchman. In the 1920s, Fernand Petiot was a bartender at Harry's New York Bar in Paris. He added a bit of spice to vodka and tomato juice. Voilà , a classic was born!
Believed to be invented at the Ritz Hotel by bartender Frank Meier in 1925, the Mimosa has been another brunch favorite since that day!
Named for Félix Kir, mayor of Dijon, France, this cocktail is traditionally made with Aligoté wine, a white Burgundy grape. Add champagne and you have the Kir Royale!
It has the word French in its name, so it has to be French, right? Named for a field gun used by the French in WWI, the French 75 is the delicious combination of gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar with the very French Champagne.
If you want to really know French Drinks, the very American David Lebovitz has written a book all about French cocktails - enjoy learning and then making a slew of French cocktails!