French 75
Gin, lemon and sugar shaken, then topped with bubbles. A celebration drink with real backbone.
Shaken · Champagne flute · Medium · about 3 minutes · about 13% ABV
Ingredients
- 30 ml Gin
- 15 ml Fresh lemon juice
- 15 ml Sugar syrup
- 60 ml Champagne or sparkling wine
- Lemon twist (garnish)
Method
- Chill the glass
- Pour 30 ml gin into the shaker
- Add 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- Pour 15 ml sugar syrup into the shaker
- Add ice
- Shake hard
- Strain
- Top with 60 ml champagne or sparkling wine
- Garnish
Tip
Use a dry sparkling wine. A sweet one makes the drink cloying.
About the French 75
Named after the French 75mm field gun of the First World War, because it was said to hit as hard. Harry MacElhone printed an early version in 1922, and the gin, lemon and Champagne recipe was set in the Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930.
The sparkling family. Champagne cocktails go back to Jerry Thomas's 1862 book, where a sugar cube and bitters were dropped into a glass of sparkling wine. The French 75, the Kir Royale and the Bellini, created in Venice in the 1940s, made sparkling drinks the symbol of celebration.
French 75 FAQ
What's in a French 75?
30 ml gin, 15 ml fresh lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, 60 ml champagne or sparkling wine, garnished with lemon twist.
How strong is a French 75?
About 13% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.5 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is about as strong as a glass of wine or lighter.
Should I shake or stir a French 75?
Shake it. citrus, juice and cream need shaking to mix properly and gain a light, lively texture.
What glass do you serve a French 75 in?
A champagne flute, about 180 ml. Chill the glass first and serve without ice. No champagne flute? Use a small wine glass.
