A classic French 75 cocktail is one of my go-to ‘feeling fancy’ drinks. It’s bubbly, light, refreshing, and served in a champagne flute with a cute lemon twist.
The French 75 is a great gin cocktail option for any and all celebrations. It is also the perfect drink to enjoy as a brunch cocktail as an alternative to a mimosa. The light and crisp taste of the French 75 make it a popular summer cocktail.
This classic cocktail recipe dates back to the late 1920s – early 1930s. While the exact origin of this drink is debated, it is agreed that the French 75 was named after a 75mm field rifle that the French used in World War I. A classic French 75 is made with champagne, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup (a syrup made with granulated sugar and water). With the majority of this drink being gin and champagne, it’s definitely on the boozier side, so sip slowly.
If you’ve been looking for easy cocktails to make at home, the French 75 is a great option and is sure to impress!
TELL ME ABOUT MAKING A FRENCH 75
Level of difficulty: Easy. Measure, shake, pour, and top with champagne!
Flavor: Bright and citrusy, with underlying floral hints from the gin
Time: It will take you less than 5 minutes to make a French 75 (this time does not include making simple syrup; this should be prepared ahead of time and cooled)
INGREDIENTS
Gin: gin is the base of this great classic cocktail. There are a lot of high-quality gin options to choose from.
Lemon Juice: fresh squeezed lemon juice is the best option for this cocktail recipe
Simple Syrup: simple syrup is made using granulated sugar and water. Because the sugar is dissolved, you eliminate any potential for graininess in your cocktail
Champagne or Sparkling Wine: this gin cocktail is topped with champagne or sparkling wine. I recommend a sweeter version, like a Prosecco or Asti. If you’d prefer a less-sweet champagne, Brut also works well for this classic cocktail recipe.
OVERVIEW: HOW TO MAKE a CLASSIC FRENCH 75
- Place gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold (approximately 15 seconds)
- Strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne
- Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!
See a quick story series on the French 75 here!
Occasions perfect for a french 75
A classic French 75 cocktail is perfect for a variety of occasions! Brunches, bridal showers, celebrations of all kinds, parties…the list goes on and on. This easy champagne cocktail is a great choice anytime you want to make an event feel classy and fancy.
TIPS & TRICKS FOR MAKING THE BEST FRENCH 75
Making a cocktail for one and don’t want to open a full bottle of champagne? No problem! Buy mini-bottles of champagne instead! I love, love, love, having mini bottles of champagne in our fridge for instances just like this! Each mini bottle fills one champagne flute (ie – is one serving). Any night can be a fancy night!
What is the best champagne or sparkling wine to use in a French 75? I recommend Prosecco or Asti for this French 75 recipe. If you’d prefer a less-sweet champagne base, Brut is a good option as well. For you Costco fans, you may have noticed the Kirkland brand Prosecco in my ingredient shot…not ashamed to say it’s my favorite (and it’s $6.99!).
What other sweeteners could I use in this cocktail recipe? If you didn’t get a chance to make simple syrup, no worries. You can always use granulated sugar instead (I would start with 1 teaspoon, you can always add more!). If you’d prefer to have a refined sugar free cocktail, honey simple syrup would be another fun option in this cocktail recipe! You could use agave syrup as an alternative sweetener (I would start with ½ teaspoon of this and add more to taste).
Is there a special tool you use to make a lemon twist? Yes, I use a simple tool called a channel knife to make my citrus twists. It is an inexpensive and small piece of equipment that can really help you to up your garnish game!
LOVE THIS RECIPE? YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:
Classic French 75
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- ice
- 3 oz champagne*
- lemon twist to garnish
Instructions
- Place gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold (approximately 15 seconds)
- Strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne
- Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!
Always love ordering these at the bar, so glad I can make them at home now! And they’re so easy too!
I’m glad I could help you bring a bar favorite home! Cheers!