The French 75 is a classic bubbly cocktail that’s perfect for brunch, weddings, and holidays. Much like a spiked bubbly lemonade, the French 75 is a refreshing summertime drink as well.
Why this recipe works
A French 75 is a lighter counterpart to the traditional mimosa. Gin, champagne, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and sugar or simple syrup make up this celebratory drink. Traditionally served in a champagne flute, this cocktail makes a great addition to brunch for Easter, Mother’s Day, or summer parties.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
- London dry gin
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice
- Simple syrup
- Brut champagne
- Lemon peel twist for garnish
How to Make a French 75:
- Using a paring knife or a zester, slice peel from lemon, going all the way around to create a long spiral.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Strain into chilled champagne flute and top with Brut.
- Curl lemon peel around a wooden spoon or your finger to create a long twist.
- Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately.
Why is it called French 75?
You may have heard of this drink referred to as a 75 Cocktail, or when translated from French, a Seventy Five. This cocktail has an interesting history, as do most drinks. Dating back to World War I, it’s said that barman Harry MacElhone created the drink in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. The name was coined from patrons who said the combination had such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun.
The French 75 recipe has changed over the years. Harry’s original contained Calvados, gin, grenadine, and absinthe. In the 1927 book “Here’s How” by Judge Jr., the name French 75 was coined and the recipe you see here today became a classic. There are some other mixology books that replace the gin in this recipe with Cognac.
If you’ve ever seen the 1942 film Casablanca, then you’ve likely heard of this bubbly cocktail already. French 75 was also mentioned in two of John Wayne’s films in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as more recently in 2016 when it appeared in the series Mr. Selfridge.
We hope you enjoy your French 75 cocktail!
Cocktails Similar to French 75
- Gimlet Cocktail – A gimlet is a combination of London dry gin, freshly squeezed lime juice and simple syrup, served in a coupe glass.
- Tom Collins – Contains almost the same ingredients as the French 75, swapping the champagne with carbonated water.
- Lemon Drop – In a lemon drop, vodka, triple sec, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and simple syrup are shaken with ice and strained into a martini glass.
- Lynchburg Lemonade – This summertime favorite combines Jack Daniel’s whiskey with triple sec, lemon juice and lemon-lime soda. Named after Lynchburg, Tennessee where the Jack Daniel’s distillery in located.
French 75
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 oz London dry gin
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- Ice
- 3 oz Brut champagne
- Lemon peel twist for garnish
Things You’ll Need
- Paring knife or zester
Instructions
- Using a paring knife or a zester, slice peel from lemon, going all the way around to create a long spiral.
- Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
- Strain into chilled champagne flute and top with Brut.
- Curl lemon peel around a wooden spoon or your finger to create a long twist.
- Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared on this blog on March 16, 2019.
Amanda Davis
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Marie says
so looking forward to trying the recipes