Olympic excitement has been at fever pitch as the world’s very best athletes depart Paris after two weeks of incredible sporting achievement, with the excitement of the Paralympics kicking off later in the month. From breakdancing to Simone Biles, we’ve all got the Games on the brain. With France being home to some of the hottest bars on the planet, as well as a rich food and drink culture, what better way to celebrate than with some incredible classic French cocktails? From the effervescent bubbles of Champagne to the robust flavours of Cognac, French spirits offer a wide array of options for crafting sophisticated and delicious drinks at home. 

So, have your ice and shaker at the ready: here are some killer cocktails to bring a little bit of oooh la la to your home bar.

The French 75: A Classic Champagne Cocktail

The French 75 is a quintessentially French cocktail, combining the elegance of Champagne with the punch of gin. It’s possible that the first French 75s didn’t contain gin at all. Cognac and Champagne were also fast friends, and some recipe books call for cognac in place of gin. This much is certain: both spirits make an excellent French 75, so mix whichever version you prefer. Named after a French artillery gun used in World War I, this cocktail packs a surprising punch, making it the perfect choice for a celebratory occasion like the Olympics. 

Ingredients:

• 25ml gin
• 15ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml simple syrup
• Champagne (to top)
• Lemon twist (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
3. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: Nothing says winning like the pop of a cork, which is why Champagne has been the drink of sporting triumph for centuries. The fizz adds a celebratory touch, while the gin gives it a bit of an edge. It’s a drink that simultaneously captures a party atmosphere and the spirit of cool French refinement.

We Recommend: GinRaw Original

Kir Royale: The Elegant Choice

Why have just one Champagne based cocktail when you can have two? Unlike the drier French 75, the Kir Royale adds a touch of berry sweetness to the sparkling wine. This cocktail is a variation of the classic Kir, which is made with white wine instead of Champagne. Aside from being delicious, the best thing about the Kir Royale might be how easy it is. The scant half ounce of crème de cassis permeates the Champagne, resulting in a gorgeous cocktail with a hint of berry sweetness. Be sure to pour the liqueur into the glass first, followed by the Champagne, which ensures the ingredients will mix naturally. A bit more or less cassis can fine tune the cocktail depending on how strong your sweet tooth is.

Ingredients:

• 15ml Crème de Cassis (blackcurrant liqueur)
• Champagne (to top)
• Blackcurrants or lemon twist (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Pour the Crème de Cassis into a Champagne flute.
2. Top with Champagne.
3. Garnish with blackcurrants or a lemon twist.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: A perfectly executed twist on a classic that never fails to impress, consider this the gymnastics of drinks.

We Recommend: Petite Porte Noire Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Sidecar: A Cognac Classic

The Sidecar is a classic French cocktail that showcases the rich flavours of Cognac, one of France’s most famous spirits. How the Sidecar got its name is a source of debate: in a classic bit of cross Channel rivalry both a French and English bar claim to have invented the cocktail for a customer who arrived at the location in the sidecar of a motorcycle. The sugared rim is optional when making a Sidecar, but considering that this cocktail lands on the drier side a little touch of sweetness does help lift it to another level. As ever, tailor to taste!

Ingredients:

• 50ml Cognac
• 20ml Cointreau (or triple sec)
• 20ml fresh lemon juice
• Sugar (for rimming the glass)
• Lemon twist (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Rim a chilled coupe glass with sugar.
2. In a shaker, combine Cognac, Cointreau, and lemon juice with ice.
3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: The Sidecar is a strong, balanced cocktail with a rich flavor profile, thanks to the Cognac – a short drink worth savouring. It’s a marathon not a sprint.

We Recommend: ABK6 Reserve Cognac Artist Collection No.1

The French Martini: A Modern Classic

The French Martini is a relatively modern cocktail that has gained popularity in the 80s for its fruity, slightly sweet flavour. Despite its name, the French Martini doesn’t use traditional French ingredients like Cognac or Champagne.. ​​The reason why this Martini earns its “French” moniker is the inclusion of Chambord black raspberry liqueur which has been produced in France since the 17th century. The Chambord, along with the pineapple juice, adds rich fruit flavour to the drink. Shake hard with plenty of ice using the freshest pineapple juice for a creamy mouthfeel and a frothy head.

Ingredients:

• 50ml vodka
• 15ml Chambord
• 25ml pineapple juice

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, combine vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass.
3. Garnish with fresh fruit of your choice.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: A fun, flirty crowd-pleaser that will have the audience going wild.

We Recommend: Kavka Estate Vodka

Le Boulevardier: The French Negroni

Le Boulevardier is often described as the French cousin of the Negroni and loosely translates as “a man about town”. It swaps the gin for Bourbon, which adds a rich, warming depth to the drink. This perfect balance of bitter, boozy and sweet. While the Negroni is a crisp aperitivo, this is much more rich and warming. This is the sort of cocktail where ingredients play a key role so don’t scrimp on quality. If you’d like it a little spicier try swapping out Bourbon for rye.

Ingredients:

• 25ml Bourbon
• 25ml sweet vermouth
• 25ml Campari
• Orange twist (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Combine Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir until well chilled and strain into a chilled rocks glass with a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with an orange twist.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: Le Boulevardier is a cocktail that demands attention. If this was up on the podium it would absolutely be taking gold. Its bold flavors and sophisticated presentation make it an ideal choice for those who appreciate a well-crafted, spirit-forward drink.

We Recommend: Gamondi Vermouth di Torino Rosso

Sazerac: France via New Orleans. Tres International!

The Sazerac is a cocktail with French roots that hails from New Orleans, a city known for its vibrant culture and French influence. It’s believed that the first Sazeracs were made with French brandy—Sazerac de Forge et Fils Cognac, to be specific—rather than the now-standard rye whiskey. Made with Cognac (or Rye whiskey), absinthe, and bitters, the Sazerac is a bold, complex drink that has been a favorite for over a century. Very similar to the Bourbon based Old Fashioned, the reason Cognac or rye works so well for the Sazerac has to do with the drink’s absinthe rinse. Absinthe’s notes of anise and licorice integrate well with the spicier profile of rye whiskey, adding depth without creating the illusion of additional sweetness, as can happen when anise spirits combine with bourbon. The combo also works well with Peychaud’s bitters, which tends to have a lighter and brighter profile than many other types of bitters, but still has a strong backbone of anise that’s accentuated through the absinthe rinse.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Cognac
• 1 sugar cube
• 3 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
• Absinthe (to rinse the glass)
• Lemon peel (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Rinse a chilled rocks glass with absinthe and discard the excess.
2. In a separate glass, muddle the sugar cube with the bitters.
3. Add Cognac to the sugar mixture and stir with ice.
4. Strain into the prepared glass.
5. Express a lemon peel over the drink and use it as a garnish.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: Just like the Games themselves the Sazerac is a cocktail with a rich history. Its complex flavours and strong character mean it’s in pole position on any menu.

We Recommend: Abecassis VSOP Cognac Grande Champagne

French Mojito: A French Twist on a Classic

While the Mojito is traditionally a Cuban cocktail, the French Mojito adds a touch of French flair by using Cognac instead of rum. This variation gives the drink a richer, more complex flavor while retaining the refreshing mint and lime notes that make the Mojito so popular.

Ingredients:

• 50ml Cognac
• 25ml fresh lime juice
• 25ml simple syrup
• 6-8 fresh mint leaves
• Soda water (to top)
• Lime wedge and mint sprig (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. In a glass, muddle the mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup.
2. Add Cognac and fill the glass with ice.
3. Top with soda water and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig.

Why It’s Perfect for the Olympics: The French Mojito is a fun and refreshing cocktail that brings a little bit of Parisian flair to a classic Cuban drink. Plus there’s nothing more OLympic than bringing nations together!

We Recommend: Abecassis VSOP Cognac Grande Champagne

Whether you’re watching at home or hosting a viewing party, we have an incredible selection of champagnes and spirits ready and waiting. Shop DrinksOne for everything you need to go for gold this summer.