The Bordeaux Blonde Cocktail

  This is a cocktail that was created and named by me. I have enjoyed this at home before dinner several times this summer. It has a very refreshing lemonade-esque flavor with floral and herbal notes. If you like your drinks sweeter, then increase the St. Germain or add simple syrup.
 
  There are an array of "blonde" cocktails that you can find recipes for online: The Dirty Blonde, The French Blonde, Blonde Redhead, Blonde Russian, etc. and each are unique without too much tying them together, my version is inspired primarily by the French Blonde.

  I call it a Bordeaux Blonde because Lillet is made in Bordeaux from the local white grapes, there are towns in Bordeaux called Saint-Germain-du-Puch and Saint-Germain-de-la-Riviere although I believe the liqueur may be made in the French Alps, and the best Gins are from Britain which has a long history with the Bordeaux region, and, although lemons are not indigenous to the region, they have been in the area for an extended period.

  The Bordeaux Blonde recipe:
This cocktail requires just four ingredients that are shaken with ice and then strained into a chilled coupe glass and garnished with a lemon and/or fresh herbs if desired. Another option is to muddle fresh herbs in the mix before shaking to bump up the herbal component, I've played with mint, basil, and thyme.

• 3/4 ounce Lillet Blanc
• 3/4 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liquer
• 1 1/2 ounces of gin - I don't have brand loyalty on this but the Tanqueray No. Ten does add more citrus freshness
• Juice from 1/2 of a large lemon (about .5 - .75 ounce)

  The Bordeaux Blonde on the rocks with tonic
I have also turned this drink into a lighter poolside refresher by serving it in a burgundy or balloon shaped glass with tonic and large ice cubes. For this version, I like the Fever-Tree Tonic water in either Elderflower or Citrus.