French 75

This French 75 is proof that champagne makes everything a little more chic. Mixing gin, lemon, simple syrup and club soda usually makes a Tom Collins, but replacing the soda with champagne and serving it in a flattering flute gives this cocktail a next-level French touch.

Elegant and refreshing, the French 75 has bright citrus notes and an effervescent finish that will make you feel fabulously fancy. It’s the perfect cocktail for a bridal shower menu or for a summertime garden party. Get your cocktail shaker and strainer ready, you’ll definitely be making a second round of these!

What is a French 75?

During World War I, American troops on the front preferred using the French army’s 75-millimeter field gun over the inferior American-made one. The French 75 gun was more accurate and had a higher rate of fire, so it follows that a cocktail named after the weapon would also be known to pack a punch.

French 75 ingredients of the early 20th century often included Cognac until gin became the more popular spirit. From Charles Dickens, known to serve “Tom gin and champagne cups” in 1867, to Tallulah Bankhead and all the big Jazz Age names, this cocktail has pedigree. The first official French 75 cocktail recipe appeared in the Savoy Cocktail Book of 1930.

French 75 Ingredients

• Gin: I love a juniper-forward London dry gin for a French 75 drink, which gives the cocktail a botanical backbone. Old Tom is a touch sweeter and richer, while more contemporary gins like Hendrick’s or Aviation tone down the juniper and amplify the more citrusy and herbal flavors. There are so many gins to choose from, so you can start with the best gin for a negroni—it’ll work just as well in French 75s!
• Lemon juice: Gin and lemon juice love each other. Their relationship is equal and supportive, and they show each other off to their best advantage. Fresh lemon juice is best in this cocktail; it adds a bright, tangy kick.
• Simple syrup: All the other French 75 ingredients want to be boss, but simple syrup mediates and balances all those big flavors with its sweetness.
• Champagne: I tend to prefer the real-deal bubbly from Champagne in France because I can’t get enough of the bready, biscuity taste of authentic bubbly, but my budget often disagrees. We found some of the best cheap champagne to try, but I usually reach for middle-priced sparkling wines like Prosecco or cava.
• Lemon twist: A gorgeous garnish, a swath of lemon peel adds an electric zip of citrus fragrance and flavor.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare your ingredients

Fresh equals fantastic! Juice your lemon and make your simple syrup. Gather your bar tools; you’ll need a shaker, strainer, citrus peeler and glassware (either a flute or a coupe).

Step 2: Mix gin, lemon and simple syrup

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Fill a shaker half full with ice. Add the gin, lemon juice and syrup.

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Cover and shake the mixture until condensation forms on the outside of the shaker.

Editor’s Tip: You don’t need to shake this cocktail very long. In fact, 10 seconds is just about right and won’t overdilute or water down the drink.

Step 3: Pour and top with champagne

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Strain the mixture into a champagne glass. Top it off with champagne, and garnish it with a lemon peel.

Editor’s Tip: For a smoother finish (and to look like a fancy bartender), double-strain the mixture using one hand to hold the Hawthorne strainer (the springy one) on the shaker tin and the other to hold the fine-mesh strainer over the champagne flute. This will remove any stray pulp or ice shards.

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French 75 Variations

• Cognac French 75: Some would call this version the original French 75, and it is still served this way at Arnaud’s French 75 restaurant in New Orleans. Substituting gin with Cognac gives the drink a richer depth of flavor and keeps it très français (Cognac is from France, while gin was first made in the Netherlands and has a long English history).
• Elderflower French 75: Add a splash of St-Germain elderflower liqueur for a floral twist that complements the lemon and champagne.
• Rosé French 75: Sparkling rosé champagne is my personal favorite variation. It adds a subtle touch of fruity sweetness and creates a beautiful blush-colored drink. This is also my secret weapon when building my signature version of an Aperol spritz!

Can you make French 75 cocktails ahead of time?

A French 75 is best enjoyed fresh from the shaker and topped with bubbly, but you can prepare some components beforehand. Try pre-mixing the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup in a large pitcher and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Just be sure to stick with the ratios in the recipe so the flavors stay balanced. When ready to serve, simply shake the mixture with ice, strain it into glasses and top the glasses off with champagne.

French 75 Tips

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What type of glass do you use for a French 75?

The champagne flute is the traditional cocktail glass used for serving French 75s. The flute helps retain the bubbles and showcase the drink’s elegant appearance. However, I personally love vintage glassware, and a coupe glass would certainly fit the bill.

Can you serve a French 75 over ice?

Yes! Some of my favorite bartenders serve this drink in a highball glass filled with ice. The prettiest French 75 I ever had the honor to sip came in a skinny parfait glass with a single slender stick of ice and some flowers for a garnish. Get creative! There are plenty of great ice molds out there, and any cocktail looks great with crystal-clear ice cubes.

How to make the best garnish for a French 75

For a glorious garnish, use a Y-shaped peeler to cut off a section of the lemon’s skin without getting too much pith (the white layer) of the peel. This is called a swath, and it should be about three inches long. Bend this lengthwise to force the oils to the peel’s surface, and swipe it against the edge of your glass before placing it in the liquid. For some real pro moves, try using a channel peeler to make a curlicue lemon twist.

What can you serve with a French 75?

A French 75 is a cocktail for any time and any occasion. Start the day off right and enjoy a French 75 with a couple of our best brunch recipes, or serve it as a patio sipper before dinner. The best food pairings I can recommend with a French 75 are inspired by bites that go with champagne, like oysters Rockefeller, seafood and fried chicken—a hospitality industry favorite.