18 Must-Try French Drinks 

The French are enthusiastic about their drinks, just like they are about their food, art, history, and language.

We’re all familiar with the country’s long and successful wine culture, but there are other more French liquor options, as well as cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.

There are also a number of strange drinks that the French are incredibly passionate about.

18 Must-Try French Drinks

So, here’s a list of some of the most popular, as well as some of the unusual drinks to try in France.

French Wines

1. Champagne

Champagne is without a doubt one of the most well-known French beverages, a festive sparkling wine that is well-known throughout the world.

Nutty, zesty, and fruity, champagne is a one-of-a-kind product that has been carefully guarded. Champagne can only be made in the historic region of Champagne, and any sparkling wine made elsewhere cannot be called champagne.

The type of grapes utilized and the method of production are also requirements for champagne to be termed champagne.

2. Monbazillac Wine

The vines bordering the southern bank of the river in Bergerac produce Monbazillac AOC wine. in the Dordogne region of southwest France.

Monbazillac is a sweet wine made from a blend of grapes such as semillon, sauvignon blanc, and muscadelle. It’s especially tasty when served cold with Perigord foie gras. It is popular among the French to drink it with dessert.

3. Pineau

Pineau des Charentes is a well-known French liqueur from the Charente region. Pineau is a fortified wine made in France using grape juice and Cognac (a drink also of the Charente region of France).

Pineau Des Charentes can be found in shops all around France, but the best ones are in the Poitou-Charente region.

It’s delicious on its own or in a cocktail. It’s typically offered as a sweet aperitif before dinner, but it goes well with a variety of dishes and sweets.

To emphasize the scents, it’s best served in a sherry glass. It’s a delectable drink that you should taste if you find yourself in France.

4. Provence Rosé

Provence Rosé accounts for 82 percent of the region’s wine production, and it’s a popular drink among locals and visitors alike. These French wines are typically dry, crisp, and pale in color, and they mix wonderfully with the region’s Mediterranean cuisine.

Pair Provence rosé with summer salads, fresh fish meals, or your favorite Thai or Japanese food if you want to enjoy it at home.

French Spirits

5. Absinthe 

Absinthe, commonly known as the “Green Fairy,” is a French alcoholic beverage that became popular in Europe in the nineteenth century.

Although absinthe was invented in Switzerland’s Val-de-Travers, it was the French border town of Pontarlier in the Jura Mountains that put the drink on the map.

There are many distilleries in Pontarlier that offer tours of their facilities, demonstrating how the spirit is made. This is also a great place to pick up a souvenir bottle, such as the brand A. If you’re looking for traditional absinthe, Junod is an excellent choice.

6. Cirac

Cirac is a light vodka made with distilled grapes and vanilla extract. It’s a mashup of the French words Roche (peak) and Roche (rock), maybe due to the grapes’ elevated location.

The sweetness of the grapes combined with the fragrant flavor of vanilla make this a fantastic drink.

7. Pastis

Pastis is famous in the southern region of France, particularly in the city of Marseille, and is sometimes called the “sunshine of Provence.” Paul Ricard was the first to commercially make pastis in 1932, and his Ricard brand is still by far the most popular.

Pastis is a liquor created from a blend of herbs and spices, with star anise and licorice root being the most prominent.

This French drink is generally consumed as an apéritif before a meal to stimulate appetite. It’s served on the rocks with a splash of water.

8. Cognac

Cognac is made from eau-de-vie, which is distilled from grapes and then aged and blended. It has a unique taste that’s a blend of spicy, fruity, and just slightly bitter.

France regulates cognac production due to the inflow of low-quality drinks advertised as cognac.

Cognac was governed by the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1936, which limited production to six terroirs and an area that included the entire Charente-Maritime department, the majority of the Charente department, and small parts of the Deux-Sèvres and Dordogne departments.

French Cocktails

9. Kir

Kir is a popular cocktail in France. It is created with blackcurrant liqueur and Burgundy white wine. It is known for its distinct sweet taste and usually served with meat or snacks.

This cocktail is most commonly offered during traditional French aperitifs, but it can also be served on a terrace during an evening with friends or family.

10. French 75 (Soixante-Quinze)

One of the traditional French drinks is the French 75. It was invented in 1915 in Paris by a bartender from Harry’s New York, though it has evolved significantly since then.

It’s incredibly simple to create. Champagne, dry gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice are all you need.

Brunches, weddings, and holidays in France are all known for beverages like the French 75. The French 75 is one of the most pleasant and simple summer drinks available.

11. Mimosa

Fresh orange juice and Champagne or any dry sparkling wine are the only ingredients in this classic breakfast/brunch cocktail. You can also add Grand Marnier or bitters to the mix to make the flavors even more delicious.

Mimosa is also easy to make. Just pour orange juice into a champagne flute, then top it with Champagne or sparkling wine.

French Liqueur

12. Chambord

Inspired by a raspberry liqueur made in the Loire Valley in the 17th century, Chambord is made from raspberries, blackberries, Madagascar vanilla, citrus peel, honey and cognac. It is said to have been introduced to King Louis XIV during one of his visits to the Château de Chambord.

If you want to try it in a cocktail, go for French martini.

13. Chartreuse 

Chartreuse is a distilled alcohol that has been aged with 130 herbs, plants, and flowers. It has been produced by the Carthusian Monks since 1737 and is named after their Grande Chartreuse monastery in Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes.

The specific recipe, on the other hand, is a highly kept trade secret. Warm up with a Green Chaud, the ultimate hot chocolate blended with a big shot of Chartreuse, after a day on the slopes.

14. Cointreau

Cointreau is an orange-flavored liqueur made famous in the French province of Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou. The Cointreau distillery first opened its doors in 1849. Even photography is restricted in the field of its preparation, as the production technique remains a secret.

Cointreau is a sweet liqueur with a strong orange and orange oil flavor that is popular during the Christmas season in France.

Non-alcoholic French drinks

15. Café au lait

This French coffee and warmed milk concoction is primarily made with brewed coffee, which is customarily prepared with a French press. The proportions of the components also varies, with café au lait often having equal amounts of both and, unlike caffè latte, usually no foam on top.

Also, espresso can be used to make café au lait. In most European countries, coffee and milk are combined in similar variations.

16. Citron Pressé

Fresh lemon juice, ice cubes, water, and a bit of sweetener are used to make this popular non-alcoholic drink in France. The drink can be exceedingly sweet or sour depending on how it’s made and the amount of ingredients used.

The only difference between it and lemonade is how it is presented. It can be taken at any time of day, and it can be taken with or without meals.

17. Perrier

Perrier is a sparkling mineral water produced in Vergèze, in the Gard region of France.

Perrier has a variety of sparkling waters to choose from, resulting in a variety of exquisite bubbles.

You can add a slice of lemon, or even some syrup, to your drink, just like you can with mineral water. The most famous Perrier ingredient is mint syrup.

18. Fruit Syrup and water

If a lemon slice in your glass of water isn’t flavorful enough for you, try adding fruit syrup.

France is recognized for its wide array of fruit syrup flavors; by doing so, you will be able to flavor any type of drink by mixing it with water. Fruit syrup comes in a variety of flavors, but Teisseire is the most popular.