Taylor Swift’s Favorite Cocktail Is the Drink You Need at Your Galentine’s Party

If you’re a dedicated fan of Taylor Swift, you probably already know that her classic drink of choice is vodka with Diet Coke. But that doesn’t mean the pop star doesn’t have a go-to cocktail that's a little more elevated—and her latest girl’s night out gave us a new order to try. Rye restaurant in Kansas City reported at the beginning of January that when she's getting drinks, she usually goes for a French Blonde cocktail. 

Fresh, lightly sweet, and not overly strong, this drink combines grapefruit juice, elderflower liqueur (typically St-Germain), Lillet Blanc, gin, and a bit of lemon bitters. You can also garnish it with a lemon peel on top or added to the side of the glass.

"I love a French Blonde! Mainly because I love almost anything with Lillet Blanc," says Juli Hale, Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen senior brand manager. "My all-time favorite cocktail is a Corpse Reviver #2, and that uses Lillet Blanc, so I started looking for other cocktails that call for it. You can also sip Lillet Blanc straight with an orange wedge. And the St. Germain? There's a reason it's called bartender's duct tape. The lightly sweet and floral liqueur fixes almost anything.

"All in all, this is an easy-to-make and very elegant cocktail. You will get why Taylor loves it."

Lillet Blanc is a French aperitif (hence the name) that primarily has citrus and honey notes. It’s only slightly stronger than a typical wine, so it doesn’t overpower the rest of the cocktail—even with the added gin, which some recipes deem it optional. It’s a fun, floral drink that makes an ideal cocktail for a night out (or in). 

If you’re planning out a menu for any upcoming holiday parties, a French Blonde has a romantic feel that's perfect for a Valentine's or Galentine’s day celebration. The balanced, citrusy flavors make it the ideal party drink—plus, it doesn't take too much effort to make, and it's also not hard to sip down more than one. Although it has a traditionally yellow color, you can use red grapefruit juice to make the cocktail pink and really fit your theme.

Using fresh grapefruit juice provides you with a more authentic, bright flavor. You can also substitute a dash of lemon juice for the lemon bitters. Not able to find Lillet Blanc in time? Dry vermouth works in a pinch, although it doesn't have as much of a citrusy flavor as the original. However, you can accommodate this by adding extra orange and lemon bitters (or juice).

Of course, if you’re worried about the substitutions or just don't feel like concocting anything yourself, you can always follow Taylor’s lead and go out for drinks with the girls instead.