Light, lemony, and oh-so refreshing, a classic French 75 is the perfect cocktail for summer sipping, a New Year’s Ever toast, or a refreshing at-home happy hour any time of year. Just shake gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, strain into a Champagne flute, and top with dry bubbly. Then, add a lemon twist and rosemary sprigs for a fancy finish.
It takes just five minutes to make this elegant, effervescent French 75 cocktail. But take one sip, and you’ll see why it’s been a bar favorite for over a hundred years.
Credit:
Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
French 75 Ingredients
This light and lemony cocktail is a perfect blend of:
Gin: This recipe calls for the fresh, bright flavor of Hendrick’s cucumber-infused gin, but feel free to swap in whatever gin you have in your home bar.
Lemon juice: Fresh-squeezed is best, and use the lemons for the lemon peel garnish.
Simple syrup: You can make your own or pick up a bottle at the grocery store.
Champagne or other dry sparkling wine
A French 75 gets garnished with a lemon peel and rosemary sprig, which adds an extra hit of citrus-herb flavor, and makes for an elegant presentation.
Credit:
Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Can you make simple syrup at home?
If you’ve never made simple syrup at home, you’ll be shocked by how, well, simple it is to DIY.
It just requires five minutes of active time to make a cup of syrup, which you can use for countless cocktails and other drinks, and that will last for a couple weeks.
How To Make a French 75
This recipe yields one single French 75 cocktail. If you’re entertaining, squeeze a batch of fresh lemon juice and set it out with the other ingredients and a copy of the recipe so you and your guests can quickly mix up more.
Step 1. Combine and shake: Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker along with a cup of ice. Secure the lid, and shake until the mixture is very chilled.Step 2. Strain and top: Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute or other tall, slender glass. Top with sparkling wine.Step 3. Garnish: Rub the edge of the glass with a lemon peel to release the oils onto the glass: this will add an extra layer of pure citrus flavor as you sip. Garnish the glass with a lemon peel and sprig or two of rosemary.
Why Is It Called a French 75?
Like most cocktails with a 100+ year history, the origins of the French 75 are a little murky. The French 75 recipe also evolved over the decades: The original version was made with apple brandy and grenadine, which gave it a reddish tint.
Most likely, an early version was a favorite by the turn of the 20th century. But experts agree that the strong, boozy pale yellow cocktail we know and love today was named for a new rapid-fire gun that was used in World War I.
Known as the “Soixante-Quinze” (Seventy-Five) for its 75-millimeter cannons, this French light field gun became a symbol of strength and hope in the war against Germany.
In 1927, at the height of Prohibition, the first-known recipe was printed in a bootlegger-friendly pamphlet called Here’s How!, which was published by a New York humor magazine.
What Kind of Wine Can You Use in a French 75?
Champagne is the classic choice for a French 75, but there’s no need to break the bank on a pricey bubbly. Prosecco, cava, or any other dry, sparkling white wine will taste just as delicious.
What Type of Glass Is Best?
For the sake of the delicate bubbles of the sparkling wine, it’s best to serve this cocktail in a champagne flute or other tall, slender cocktail glass.
What Do You Serve With a French 75?
Serve this light and lemony cocktail alongside classic bar snacks like olives, salted nuts, or cheese straws.
Editorial contributions by Elizabeth Brownfield.
Credit:
Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Dining and Cooking