Australian bars should be on high alert because Taylor Swift’s new favourite cocktail is going viral.

The singer was recently spotted at a restaurant in Kansas City on a girls’ night out where she sipped French Blondes throughout the night. The drink is a combination of gin, the French aperitif Lillet, St. Germain elderflower liqueur and grapefruit juice.

“From our understanding, [that is] her favourite cocktail,” the restaurant’s co-owner told the Page Six gossip column.

Suddenly Tik Tok was overflowing with fans recreating their idol’s favourite drink … cue a stampede of Swifties wanting to sip one on the eve of Swift’s The Eras Tour hitting Melbourne and Sydney.

The Lillet Blanc website’s recipe for Taylor Swift’s favourite cocktail is as follows …

The French Blonde

• 2 parts of Lillet Blanc
• 2 parts of grapefruit juice
• 1 part of Monkey 47 Gin
• 1/2 part elderflower liqueur
• 3 dashes lemon bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice to shake it off. Double strain into a Nick & Nora glass.

Shake it off! Smooth move Lillet …

Swiftenomics for Aussie hospitality

Melbourne and Sydney are gearing up for “Swiftenomics” following the impact of the The Eras Tour concerts in the United States, which generated considerable economic activity for the communities involved. By the end of her Eras Tour, The Washington Post estimates Swift could have contributed $8.3 billion to the US economy.

As the Australian Financial Review reports: “A sold-out run of Taylor Swift shows in Sydney and Melbourne could trump Australia’s entire summer of cricket, as venues experts predict the pop star’s seven-concert extravaganza will inject more than $140 million into the economy.”

In Sydney and Melbourne, conservative estimates show that nearly 600,000 people will attend the concerts over the seven shows, with an average spending of $284 per person.

Venues NSW chief executive Kerrie Mather told RN Breakfast: “An event like Taylor Swift attracts significant interstate and international visitation, which means that people actually come, and they stay at hotels, or Airbnb, they actually go out to dinner, they go to bars and restaurants.”

Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolau told the Daily Telegraph the Swift concerts, combined with Pink’s upcoming gigs, would have a $130 million impact on NSW alone.

“Together and separately, they are an economic force of nature with hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and transport operators benefiting from the increased demand.”

Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes said his hotels were booked out.

“Taylor Swift can boost an economy! Now that’s impressive,” he said.

“We’ve seen huge demand for bookings, most of our CBD venues and hotels have been fully booked for months now. She’s in a league of her own.”

The world’s biggest marketing opportunity?

When Swift touts or is seen with something new, sales follow. When she attended her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s NFL game, she boosted sales of his No. 87 jersey by about 400 per cent, according to Fanatics, which sells the league’s merchandise.

The Drinks Business reported last month: “Are [Swift and Kelce’s] drinks choices becoming the world’s biggest marketing opportunity?

“Swift, who is currently the world’s biggest music star, has been at many Kansas City Chiefs games this season, where Travis Kelce plays as a tight end. What she is snapped drinking is already having a phenomenal impact on drinks sales.”

First she was spotted drinking a can of Casa Azul Tequila Soda during a Chiefs game, which resulted in a sales spike. Kelce made an equity stake investment in the brand last year.

When Swift, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman watched the Chiefs play the New York Jets the Whiskey Raiders website reported the friends were drinking Lively’s Betty Buzz and Betty Booze brands. Cue another sales jump.

One of Swift’s hits, Champagne Problems, kicked off a boom for bubbles. Champagne had another moment following the Chiefs’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens when Swift hosted an after-party featuring 30 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose 2006 valued at $1400 each and 10 bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal worth $2800 each for the event.

During the Australian The Eras Tour concerts partner Crown said it expected 2000 champagne bottles to be consumed in its Melbourne ­facilities during the concert week.

Smirnoff in a Lavender Haze

Smirnoff has released a new limited edition RTD flavour – Smirnoff Ice Lavender Lemonade – ahead of Taylor Swift’s Australian tour and tapping into the enthusiasm for all things purple following her 2022 hit song Lavender Haze.

Smirnoff said the premix bottle’s citrus flavour and cloudy lavender colouring has been designed to mimic the energy and fun that festivals and concerts evoke for music lovers.

Smirnoff Marketing Manager Maddy Stockwell said: “With the colour purple having its moment, we’re leaning into our lavender era with the launch of Smirnoff Lavender Lemonade, creating a new taste that sparks excitement. Smirnoff lives and breathes music, so when we saw the line-up of incredible musicians and artists making their way to Aussie stages this year, we knew we had to get ready for it.”