The French 75 Cocktail is a classic drink that combines the freshness of citrus with the kick of gin and champagne
This classic cocktail, made with 4 ingredients, including gin, champagne, lemon juice, and simple syrup, is the perfect blend of citrusy sweetness and bubbly effervescence
Whether you’re looking to impress guests at your next dinner party or simply craving a delicious cocktail on a warm evening, mastering the art of making French 75’s will elevate your mixology skills.
Grab your shaker and get ready to learn how to craft this timeless libation with our foolproof recipe
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Ingredients Needed:
This recipe makes 2 cocktails in a champagne flute or coupe glass. See the printable recipe card below for exact quantities and instructions. Just 4 simple ingredients needed.
- Gin – choose a dry gin
- Fresh Lemon Juice – This is the time for freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Simple Syrup – For sweetness. It’s easy to make your own simple syrup. It’s simply sugar and water, heated together until the sugar dissolves, then cooled
- Champagne – Enough to top the glass. We prefer Brut champagne because it has plenty of bubbles, is not too sweet, and is a little dry (see below for sparkling wine substitution ideas). The amount will depend on the size of your glass
- Lemon Twist – For garnish, see below for instructions
How To Make a Classic French 75
- Prepare the Simple Syrup and cool to room temperature
- Prepare the lemon twists with the lemon peel (before you squeeze the juice from the lemon) and then squeeze the lemon juice
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice
- Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the shaker
- Shake well until chilled (20-30 seconds)
- Strain into a champagne flute or other glass
- Top off the glass with Champagne
- Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!
Common Substitutions
- French 76 Cocktail – substitute vodka in place of the gin
- Mexican 75 Cocktail – this variation uses lime juice instead of lemon juice and tequila instead of gin
- Use Cognac in place of gin – this is thought to be how the original recipe was made
- Elderflower syrup or liqueur in place of simple syrup, such as St. Germain
- In place of Champagne try Cava, Prosecco, or any dry sparkling wine
- In place of the lemon twist use rosemary sprigs for color
Tips to follow for the perfect cocktail at home
- Use high-quality ingredients: Good gin, fresh lemons, dry Champagne
- Chill the gin and Champagne for best results
- Shake well: Shake the drink vigorously with ice to properly chill and dilute the ingredients. This will also create a nice frothy texture
- Room-temperature simple syrup works best for blending
- Chill the glassware if serving on a warm day
- Making for a crowd? Prep everything ahead of time and make the cocktails in batches for the best results. Simple syrup and lemon juice can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in advance.
How to make a lemon twist garnish
- Peel a straight strip of lemon peel from the lemon with a paring knife, or use a channel knife to peel around the lemon as we did in the photo below. Remove the white pith and clean up the edges
- Curl the peel around the handle of a spoon or a straw while you prepare the cocktail
- Here is a quick video with easy instructions for making them
Why is it called a French 75?
- This elegant cocktail recipe dates back to 1915 and World War 1 and was supposedly created at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, by Harry Craddock. This drink has stood the test of time because of its refreshing sophisticated flavor profile.
- It’s named after the French 75-millimeter light field weapon used by the French army. The weapon was light, quick, and “packed a punch” just like this cocktail!
What is the difference between a French 75 and a French Martini?
- The gorgeous French Martini is sweeter and fruit-forward with Chambord (a black raspberry liqueur), pineapple juice, and vodka. It’s an easy drink to make as well, so click over to see the full step-by-step.
- The French 75 is less sweet with tart lemon juice, gin, and Champagne
The best glassware to use:
- Traditional Champagne Flute: The tall, slender shape allows the effervescence of the champagne to be showcased beautifully. This not only enhances the visual appeal of the cocktail but also helps preserve its bubbly nature longer.
- Coupe Glass: The wide bowl-like shape of the coupe glass provides ample space for the bubbly and looks very old-school elegant!
- In a pinch use a tall glass
Other Champagne Cocktails to try
We love the festive nature of cocktails that use Champagne! They are light, fun, and not just for special occasions. They’re perfect for warm nights, girls nights, happy hours, and brunch. Here are a few of our favorites:
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French 75 Cocktail
Equipment
- 1 Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Gin, chilled
- 1 ounce Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 ounce Simple Syrup
- 4-6 ounces Brut Champagne, depending on size of glass, chilled (or Cava, Prosecco, or Sparkling Wine)
- 2 Lemon Twists for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare simple syrup and cool to room temperature while preparing cocktail
- Make lemon twist garnishes (be sure to do this before you squeeze the lemons), and squeeze the lemons for lemon juice
- Fill a shaker halfway with ice and add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Place lid on shaker and shake vigorously until well chilled, about 30 seconds
- Strain into champagne glasses and top with Champagne
- Garnish each glass with a lemon twist and serve
Notes
- How to make Simple Syrup
- Well chilled Champagne and Gin make the best cocktails
- Simple Syrup works best at room temperature for cocktails
- Champagne amount will vary based on champagne glass size.
C.Ann
So sunny and easy
Sam
Perfect for a night on the porch with my peeps!