French 75 Recipe

French 75 is a classic champagne cocktail that is refreshing, aromatic, and citrusy. You only need 4 ingredients to make this sparkling drink: gin, champagne, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Serve these champagne cocktails for New Year’s Eve, bridal showers, and any other celebration!

What is French 75?

It’s a classic cocktail that combines aromatic gin, bubbly champagne, fresh lemon juice, and a touch of sweetness. Gin and champagne is such a pleasant and aromatic combination of flavors in this classic cocktail. Add citrus of lemon to it and a touch of sweetness, and you have a wonderful cocktail on your hands. After all, it’s a classic for a reason.

And like so many other classic cocktails, the true origin of it is unknows. We know that this cocktail was created sometime in the early 1900s and that it’s named after the French 75-mm light field gun. This gun was portable and capable of firing up to 15 rounds per minute with explosive shells. It was the main choice of weapon for the French army in the WWI.

Some historians suggest that this cocktail was originally named “Soixante-Quinze” or “Seventy Five” in Paris bar and evolved onto “French 75.” Since many classic cocktails are named after notable people, events, and inventions, the name French 75 seems quite fitting here. Even with decades of changes in the original recipes, it is still a strong cocktail that’s named very appropriately. After all, this is quite a potent cocktail that is capable of knocking you off your feet!

French 75 Recipe Ingredients & Tips

• Gin – Use your favorite gin here because its flavor will be pronounced.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice – yes, I highly recommend that you squeeze the lemon juice yourself for the cocktail instead of buying already squeezed. The flavor is quite different.
• Simple Syrup – You can make your own simple syrup and store it in the refrigerator or you can buy premade. To make your own, combine 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of hot water and stir until dissolved. Store homemade simple syrup in the refrigerator, in an air-tight bottle.
• Champagne – Use dry, extra dry, or brut champagne, not sweet! Choose the one you like to drink because this is a main ingredient in this recipe and you will taste all the flavor.
• Lemon Twist – Use a paring knife to first cut the lemon in half, then cut the pulp off of the peel. Once you have your peel, simply twist and squeeze to extract the oils out.

Tools and Barware Needed

• Champagne Flutes
• Sharp paring knife, Y peeler, or zester – you’ll need this to make the perfect garnish for your cocktail.
• Jigger to measure the ingredients.

How To Make French 75 Recipe

Chill the champagne flutes while preparing other ingredients. Fill the flutes with ice and cold water and let them stand until ready to make the cocktails.

Prepare the lemon. Peel the zest off of the lemon before squeezing the juices out of the pulp. Then, add the freshly squeezed lemon juice to the glass.

Combine the ingredients. In a champagne flute, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin. Stir for a few seconds to combine.

Pour the champagne. Carefully fill the glasses with champagne.

Add the lemon twist. Twist the lemon peel until you see expressed oils come onto the skin. Then, drop it into the glass and enjoy!

Other Cocktails You May Like

Of all the incredible champagne cocktail recipes, this one and my cosmopolitan champagne cocktail are my favorites!

If you want another citrusy drink, be sure to check out my lemon drop martini.

Of course, you also can’t beat the classics, like a peach bellini or a cosmopolitan!

If you made any of my recipes and shared them on Instagram, make sure to tag me @willcookforsmiles and #willcookforsmiles so I can see all the things you tried!

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