14 July

Vive la Revolution. July 14th calls for a celebration of all things French, so roll out the croissant pastry, slice the baguette and fill the cheese platter with some beaufort, reblochon, chevrotin and comté, because the French would never enjoy these dozen francophile-inspired drinks on an empty stomach.

It was July 14, 1789, that the anguished French took matters into their own hands and stormed the Bastille, kick-starting the French revolution. Whilst the day didn't exactly go to plan - rather than imprisoning a hoard of angry political prisoners the Bastille had a mere seven old men - it was still the symbol of revolt that the country needed.

France celebrates its national day with Europe's largest annual military parade on the Champs-Élysées (hence our headline cocktail choice, after which parties ensue all over the country.

1. Champs-Élysées

With: Cognac, Green Chartreuse, lemon juice, sugar syrup and aromatic bitters.
We say: Named after the touristy Parisian boulevard, this is basically a Sidecar made with Green Chartreuse in place of triple sec.
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2. Sidecar

With: Cognac, triple sec, pineau des charentes, and lemon juice.
We say: Perhaps the best-known of all "French" cocktails, the Sidecar was perhaps created by, and almost certainly popularised, by McGarry at London's Bucks Club. Our version shuns the splash of sugar syrup added by some in favour of the extra richness and flavour provided by pineau des charentes.
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3. French 75

With: London dry gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and sparkling wine.
We say: A classic, light early-evening gin sour, enlivened by fizz. Legend has it that this cocktail was created by Harry MacElhone at his Harry's American Bar in Paris in 1925. However, so many classics, the origin of the French 75 is contested and there's also a story behind the name.
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4. Absinthe Daiquiri

With: Light rum, Agricole blanc, absinthe, lime juice, and sugar syrup.
We say: Adapted from a cocktail created in September 2022 at Lulu White bar in Paris.
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5. Corpse Reviver No. 1

With: Cognac, calvados, rosso vermouth, and orange bitters
We say: Generally credited to Frank Meier at the Ritz Bar, Paris.
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6. Absinthe Drip

With: Absinthe, water and sugar.
We say: Absinthe fountains grace bars around the world - a reminder of both this refreshing classic café cocktail and the "Green Fairy" it is based upon.
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7. French Martini

With: Vodka, black raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice.
We say: Named for its use of French blackberry and raspberry-flavoured liqueur, this fruity Alterna-tini emerged in late 1980s New York City.
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8. Boulevardier

With: Bourbon, rosso vermouth, red bitter liqueur.
We say: Thanks to Arthur Moss, columnist of the New York Herald, Paris, the "Around the Town", the Boulevardier first appears in the "Around the Town" section of the 1927 book Barflies and Cocktails.
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9. Kir Apéritif (or Kir Royal)

With: With Bourgogne Aligoté wine and crème de cassis OR champagne and crème de cassis.
We say: Hit the perfect proportions of dry wine and rich liqueur and this is a fabulous aperitif cocktail. We also love the story behind the Kir Aperitif.
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10. Vieux Carré

With: Bourbon, cognac, Bénédictine, rosso vermouth, aromatic bitters and Creole-style bitters.
We say: Cognac and Bénédictine influence this Sweet Manhattan on-the-rocks style cocktail. American rather than French, but its name reflects its origins in New Orleans' French Quarter.
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11. Serendipity

With: Fresh mint, calvados, apple juice, sugar and champagne.
We say: This superbly refreshing cocktail by Collin Field is the signature cocktail at the Hemmingway Bar of the Paris Ritz Hotel.
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12. Left Bank Martini

With: Dry gin, elderflower liqueur, Chablis and dry vermouth.
We say: Named for the Parisian St-German district on the left-bank of the Seine, this floral Martini-style cocktail was created for the launch of the elderflower liqueur which earned the nickname "Bartender's Ketchup".
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