French 75
Ingredients
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- 1 ounces gin
- 1/2 ounces lemon juice – freshly squeezed (~0.5 medium lemons)
- 1/2 ounces simple syrup
- 1 cups ice cubes
- 3 ounces Champagne – chilled
- lemon twist – for serving
Instructions
1. Chill a Champagne flute until cold.
2. Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker; add the ice cubes and shake hard until well-chilled, 10–12 seconds.
3. Strain into the chilled flute.
4. Top with the Champagne (3 ounces), give a gentle stir to combine, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve immediately.
The French 75 is a bright, effervescent Champagne cocktail that marries botanical gin with brisk lemon and a touch of sweetness. The bubbles lift citrus oils and aromatics, delivering a crisp, bracing sip that’s both celebratory and refreshing. Served in a flute, it balances tartness and sweetness with a dry, elegant finish from the Champagne.
Its name references the powerful French 75mm field gun from World War I, hinting at the drink’s lively kick. The cocktail is widely associated with Parisian bars in the early 20th century, especially the expatriate haunts that shaped modern cocktail culture. Over time, the base spirit shifted in practice from brandy in some early recipes to gin in the modern standard, but the pairing with Champagne has remained the defining hallmark.