French 75 Cocktail

This French 75 cocktail recipe is fabulous. It’s a delicious and balanced combination of gin, lemon and champagne. It’s a classic cocktail that will make you feel classy drinking it.

This delicious cocktail is so perfectly balanced that you can’t quite discern the ingredients when you sip it, though you can tell there is champagne because of the fizz.

This history

A version of this cocktail was first made in the early 1900s.  It became popular during World War I.  They say that it’s a based on the Tom Collins.  It just replaces soda water with another (some might say, better) form of carbonation: champagne.

It was named the French 75 because it is known to pack such a punch that when you imbibe it, it feels like being hit by the French 75mm field gun!  Weird, but interesting.

Helpful tips

• If you are only making a few of these cocktails, I recommend you buy the 4 pack of small bottles of champagne. Or if you love champagne and know you will drink the bottle, then get the big bottle and enjoy.
• Always use fresh lemon juice. I recommend you wash your lemon thoroughly. Here’s how: Use a natural, unscented hand soap, squirt some in your hand and rub over the fruit. Next, run cold water over the lemon as you use a vegetable brush on the skin.
• Simple syrup is very easy to make. Save yourself some money by making your own. Here’s how: combine equal parts of water and white sugar to a sauce pan and heat on medium heat until it boils. Stir and lower heat to a simmer and cook for five minutes. Let syrup cool completely before using.
• I don’t like super sweet cocktails, so I don’t use a lot of simple syrup. Try it with my recommended amount and if you don’t find it sweet enough, add another teaspoon per cocktail and stir gently with a spoon.
• Use your favorite gin and champagne, but if you are buying champagne in the small bottles, you will be limited to whatever brand your liquor store offers.
• I like to use differently shaped glassware. If you entertain a lot, they are must-haves. It’s impressive serving cocktails this way and it usually sparks conversation, too.

How to make the French 75 cocktail

Pre-step

Get a cocktail shaker and fill it halfway with ice. Take out two champagne glasses. For the garnish, cut two thin lemon wheels. Put a slice in the side of each rind. Cut out the lemon pulp and toss. Set aside your clean rinds.

After measuring out the ingredients, pour into cocktail shaker.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – gin, champagne, simple syrup and lemon.

Step two

Measure 2 ounces gin. I use Bombay Sapphire because it is a solid mid-level brand.

Step three

Measure 1.5 ounces of lemon juice.

Step four

Measure 2 teaspoons of simple syrup.

Step five

Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds. Strain and divide between the two glasses.

Open your champagne bottle.

Step six

Pour champagne to top off each glass. You don’t have to measure, just pour it in. I find that each one takes about 3 ounces of the bubbly.

To make a lemon twist garnish, wrap the lemon rind around something thin like a chop stick and hold for a minute.

Place a lemon twist in each glass.

Let’s look at the vertical view of the French 75 cocktail.

Doesn’t that look good?

I hope you enjoyed this French 75 cocktail recipe. It’s rather refreshing.

Other popular champagne cocktails

• Night and day
• Red velvet
• Airmail

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Fabulous French 75 Cocktail

This French 75 cocktail is delicious and refreshing!I

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cocktails

Cuisine: Cocktails

Keyword: champagne cocktail, cocktails made with lemon, French 75 cocktail

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 2 Cocktails

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Elaine Benoit

Ingredients

• 2 ounce gin
• 1.5 ounce lemon juice
• 2 teaspoon simple syrup 1 – 2
• 6 ounces champagne

Garnish

• 2 lemon twists

Instructions

• Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice
• Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup
• Cap shaker and shake at least 10 seconds
• Divide and strain between the champagne flutes
• Pour champagne up to the top of the glass and add the lemon twist
• Sip
• Smile
• Enjoy

Equipment

cocktail shaker

measuring glass

champagne flute

Notes

Helpful tips

• If you are only making a few of these cocktails, I recommend you buy the 4 pack of small bottles of champagne. Or if you love champagne and know you will drink the bottle, then get the big bottle and enjoy.
• Always use fresh lemon juice. I recommend you wash your lemon thoroughly. Here’s how: Use a natural, unscented hand soap, squirt some in your hand and rub over the fruit. Next, run cold water over the lemon as you use a vegetable brush on the skin.
• Simple syrup is very easy to make. Save yourself some money by making your own. Here’s how: combine equal parts of water and white sugar to a sauce pan and heat on medium heat until it boils. Stir and lower heat to a simmer and cook for five minutes. Let syrup cool completely before using.
• I don’t like super sweet cocktails, so I don’t use a lot of simple syrup. Try it with my recommended amount and if you don’t find it sweet enough, add another teaspoon per cocktail and stir gently with a spoon.
• Use your favorite gin and champagne, but if you are buying champagne in the small bottles, you will be limited to whatever brand your liquor store offers.
• I like to use differently shaped glassware. If you entertain a lot, they are must-haves. It’s impressive serving cocktails this way and it usually sparks conversation, too.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cocktail | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 97mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg

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Originally published in July of 2017.