Quick Facts about the French 75
- Refreshing long drink with a complex flavor profile
- Typical garnish: a lemon or lime twist
- Classically served in a champagne flute
What is a French 75?
The name of the long drink comes from a French rapid-fire field gun used during World War I. According to legend, the cocktail originated during the war — English soldiers in France found gin, lemon juice, and champagne. The drink benefits from the elegant, multi-layered taste of the champagne.
What does a French 75 taste like?
In a French 75, sweetness, acidity, and alcohol play together in a unique way. The champagne provides the decisive flavor through its aromatic complexity. You can optionally prepare the drink with sparkling wine, but you then sacrifice depth of flavor. The fresh lemon juice makes it a lovely refreshment for the summer. In its composition, it is reminiscent of a Whisky Sour, Gin Fizz, or Tom Collins. In terms of taste, it is comparable to a Bellini or Mimosa, which also use champagne as a filler.
Which gin goes best?
Next to champagne, only a London Dry Gin can keep up in terms of quality. This classic gin variety possesses a clear juniper note and, as a rule, distinct citrus aromas. They play wonderfully with the complex aroma of the champagne.
Ingredients
- 3 cl London Dry Gin
- 1.5 cl fresh lemon juice
- 1 cl sugar syrup
- 6 cl champagne (or high-quality Crémant)
- Garnish: lemon twist
Preparation
Shake the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup vigorously with ice in a shaker. Strain into a pre-chilled champagne flute and top up with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Variation: American 75
In the American version, gin is replaced by whiskey. The drink loses some of its lightness as a result, but gains depth and spice.
Related Cocktails
Mimosa — a fresh, elegant cocktail with a full fruity note. Ingredients: 75 ml champagne + 75 ml freshly squeezed orange juice. Preparation: Squeeze half an orange fresh, pour into a champagne glass, and slowly top up with champagne.
Bellini — tastes wonderfully smooth and has a wonderful consistency due to the peach purée. Ingredients: 30 ml white peach purée, topped up to about 100 ml with champagne.
