Forget mundane mixers. The French 75 is here to add some sparkle to your cocktail game. It’s the perfect antidote to tired cocktail recipes, an elegant and effervescent twist on a classic, with just a touch of history (and gin) to make it interesting.
Looking for the perfect cocktail to serve on celebratory occasions?
Meet the French 75 Cocktail – a refreshing concoction of gin, lemon juice, champagne, and simple syrup, a close relative of a Tom Collins and a Bees Knees Cocktail.
Enter the French 75. This champagne cocktail arrived on the scene during the early 1900s, when fedoras were all the rage. It offered a sophisticated escape from the dubious concoctions of Prohibition. With its perfect balance of dry gin, bubbly champagne, and a whisper of lemon, it’s a potent little gun in a glass—a celebration of crisp, clean flavors that feels both utterly modern and undeniably timeless.
Watch 🎥: How to make a French 75 Cocktail Recipe
What Is a French 75 Cocktail?
The French 75’s origins are a little hazy, but its charm is undeniable! The most popular story traces it back to Harry’s New York Bar in Paris during World War I. Legend has it that a bartender named Harry MacElhone created it, inspired by the powerful French 75-millimeter field gun. Whether this story is true or not, the name certainly stuck!
Another contender for the French 75’s birthplace is a recipe from a 1927 issue of a New York humor magazine called “Here’s How!” This recipe is very similar to the one that later appeared in the famous Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock in 1930.
The Savoy Cocktail Book is often credited with popularizing the drink, especially in America during the height of Prohibition. Since it used champagne instead of the usual soda water in a gin cocktail like a Tom Collins, it offered a more celebratory and luxurious feel, perfect for those speakeasy soirees.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make a French 75 Cocktail
How to Make a French 75 Cocktail
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice and stir.
- Strain into a champagne glass and top with champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon slice or lemon twist.
Expert Recipe Tips
- Feeling adventurous? While gin is the classic base for a French 75, you can experiment with other spirits! Cognac, for example, adds a touch of French flair, while vodka creates a cleaner and more neutral base.
- Like most cocktails, a French 75 thrives on coldness. Make sure your champagne (or sparkling wine) is well chilled, and use ice cubes that are nice and big – they’ll melt slower and won’t dilute your drink as quickly. For an extra frosty experience, pre-chill your champagne flute in the freezer for a few minutes before you get started.
- Freshness is key here! Skip the bottled lemon juice and use freshly squeezed lemons for the brightest flavor.
- The amount of simple syrup you use depends on your personal preference and the sweetness of your champagne.
How to serve this cocktail
This classic cocktail is all about celebrating! It’s perfect for clinking champagne flutes at a fancy brunch, a celebratory dinner party, or even a glamorous New Year’s Eve toast – anywhere you want a touch of bubbly sophistication.
More Cocktail Recipes
The French 75 Cocktail is an elegant paradox in a glass – equal parts sophisticated and effervescent, a touch of history with a modern twist. Serve it at brunch with your closest friends, raise a toast at a fancy dinner party, or simply clink glasses for no reason at all. If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!
French 75 Cocktail Recipe
American, FrenchEquipment
- cocktail shaker
- fine mesh strainer
- Stirring spoon
- alcohol measuring cup
- Cocktail glass
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz simple syrup
- ½ oz lemon juice
- 3 oz Champagne or sparkling wine
- Lemon slice - for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a mixing glass with ice.
- Add the gin, simple syrup and lemon juice and stir.
- Strain into a champagne glass and top with champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon slice.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
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