The Best French Open-Themed Cocktails That Will Make You Feel Like You’re at Roland Garros

I will never forget a French Open watch party that my team had some years ago. We watched the women’s singles final between Garbiñe Muguruza and Serena Williams and noshed on a fabulous French brunch with a mimosa bar. Ahhhhh. . . what a super fun time!

Here’s an interesting fact: Fans aren’t allowed to take alcohol into the stadiums at Roland Garros. . . which is probably why I’ve never been, lol! Just kidding (or am I?). I’ve never been to Roland Garros because Paris is so far away, travel and accommodations are beyond my budget. . . and alcohol isn’t allowed in the stadiums 😜.

Fortunately, I have a 75″ TV, a subscription to the Tennis Channel, and an amazingly comfy couch so I can watch the French Open at home. An added bonus is that I can make my own snacks and French Open-themed cocktails.

Speaking of French Open-themed cocktails, the following list of French libations includes some special one-off cocktails for the event and some delightful sippers to while away the day watching some world-class tennis.

So, sit back, sip, and enjoy the tennis!

Ace Royal

Though it is no longer served at the French Open, the Ace Royal is still considered the “signature” cocktail for the tournament. The recipe below is from a former bartender at the tournament; however, there is another floating around the web that is a copycat version.

Traditional Ingredients

• 2 oz. basil syrup
• 2 oz. cucumber syrup
• 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice (no pulp)
• 5 oz. Moet champagne
• ice for serving
• optional thinly sliced lemon, lime, and orange wheel for garnish

Directions

Pour the basil syrup, cucumber syrup, and lime juice into a mixing glass and stir gently to combine. Pour the mixture into a large wine glass and add a thinly sliced lemon, lime, orange wheel,large wine glass and add a thinly sliced lemon, lime, and orange wheel and ice. Top with Moet champagne.

Classic Mimosa

A classic Mimosa contains equal parts of orange juice and champagne and is believed to have been invented at the Hôtel Ritz Paris by bartender Frank Meier around 1925.

Our recipe has a little more champie because. . . champie!

Ingredients

• 3 oz. sparkling wine, champagne, cava, or prosecco (well-chilled)
• 2 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice (no pulp)
• optional fruit for garnish

Directions

1. Add sparkling wine to champagne flute.
2. Top with orange juice and optional fruit, if desired.
3. Enjoy immediately.

French Horn

The French Horn is a must if you like raspberries. It’s sweet, but not too sweet, and the vodka and lemon are a perfect complement to the berry flavor. This is one of my favorite of the French Open-themed cocktails.

Ingredients

• 1 oz. vodka
• 3/4 oz. Chambord
• 1/2 oz. lemon juice
• optional raspberries for garnish

Directions

1. Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake for 10 seconds.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with optional raspberries and serve.

Boulevardier

This is one of the more popular French Open-themed cocktails. The Boulevardier was created in Paris at Harry’s New York Bar. Harry McElhone, the bar owner, created it for Erskine Gwynne, a writer. He was also the publisher of the magazine “Boulevardier” which gave its name to the cocktail.

Ingredients

• 1-½ oz. bourbon whiskey
• 1 oz. sweet or semi-sweet red vermouth
• 1 oz. Campari
• ice for serving
• optional orange peel for the garnish

Directions

1. Combine the bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Campari in a cocktail mixing glass. Fill the mixing glass with 1 handful ice and stir continuously for 30 seconds.
2. Add ice to a lowball glass, and strain the drink into the glass.
3. Use a knife to remove a 1″ wide strip of the orange peel. Squeeze the orange peel into the drink to release the oils. Gently run the peel around the edge of the glass, then place it in the glass and serve.

French Connection

The French Connection was invented in the 1970’s, named after the 1971 movie of the same name starring Gene Hackman. It’s incredibly simple but full flavored: basically a fancy way to sip on Cognac.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 oz. cognac
• 1-1/2 oz. amaretto

Directions

1. Fill a rocks glass with ice.
2. Add the cognac and amaretto and stir briefly to combine.

Kir Royale

The Kir was originally called blanc-cassis. It was renamed after a priest named Félix Kir, a hero of the French resistance during World War II and the mayor of the French town Dijon from 1945 to 1968.

Some stories claim that Kir devised the cocktail after the Nazis confiscated all the Burgundy region red wines, creating a drink with the available white wine that tasted like a red!

Ingredients

• 1 oz. crème de cassis (or substitute Chambord or crème de mure)
• 4 oz. sparkling wine, champagne, cava, or prosecco
• Optional raspberries for garnish

Directions

1. Pour the crème de cassis into a champagne glass. Top it off with the sparkling wine.
2. Garnish with raspberries if desired. Serve immediately.

Pastis

Are you a fan of black licorice? If so, you’ll adore a Pastis! But if you’re one of those people who doesn’t like black jelly beans, keep in mind that it’s an acquired taste.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz. Ricard Pastis (or Pernod)
• 6 oz. chilled water
• optional ice for serving

Directions

1. Add the Pastis to a small highball glass.
2. Top with the water and enjoy. Add more or less water to taste.
3. Though this is traditionally served without ice, it’s always an option.

French 75

This classic champagne cocktail is tangy, bubbly, botanical and refreshing. Most sources say that it was invented in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. It got this name because it was as powerful as a French 75mm field gun.

Ingredients

• 1-½ oz. gin
• ¾ oz. lemon juice
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• 3 oz. sparkling wine, champagne, cava, or prosecco (about 1/2 glass)
• optional lemon twist for garnish

Directions

1. Place the gin, lemon juice, and syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 15 seconds until cold.
2. Strain the liquid into a champagne flute.
3. Top off the glass with champagne.
4. Add optional garnish, if desired, and serve.

Sidecar

Here’s another of the French Open-themed cocktails with World War I roots. The story goes that this drink was invented for a motorcycle riding customer who happened to have a sidecar. Other people insist the name comes from the mix left behind in the cocktail shaker after serving.

Usually served as a shot, it’s seen as a sidecar to the main drink.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. brandy, cognac, Armagnac, or bourbon
• 1 oz. premium triple sec
• 3/4 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice (strain pulp)
• Optional lemon twist for garnish

Directions

1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well.
2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with an optional lemon twist, if you desire.
4. Enjoy!

Serendipity

Here’s one of my favorite French Open-themed cocktails. The Serendipity is a bright, fragrant champagne drink from the head bartender at Bar Hemingway in Paris.

Ingredients

•  
•  
• 1-2 sprigs fresh mint
•   sparkling wine, champagne, cava, or prosecco

Directions

1. 
   
   Lightly muddle the mint a tall cocktail glass. (You don’t want to completely pulverize the mint, friends, you just want the leaves to release some of their oils.)
2. 
   
   Add the Calvados and cider and give everything a good stir. If you’ve got a swizzle stick, use it.
3. 
   
   Fill the glass with ice and top with champagne. Cheers!

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