Skip to main content
Epicurious
Bon Appétit

French 75

By Chris Morocco
Two champagne glasses filled with French 75 cocktails clinking.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman

The French 75 is that rare creature of a cocktail: elegant enough to make you feel like it’s New Year‘s Eve in Paris but made with just a few simple ingredients that come together with little more effort than it would take for you to crack open that same old bottle of wine.

Simple syrup is the only element of this cocktail recipe that requires a little work: Add 1 cup of boiling water to 1 cup of sugar and stir vigorously until the sugar dissolves completely, then chill until cool. Champagne is the traditional choice for the bubbles, but any good and very dry sparkling wine like cava or prosecco will work in a pinch.

There’s some debate about whether a French 75 should call for gin or cognac. The drink‘s name comes from the 75-millimeter cannons used in World War I, says Chris Hannah, the head bartender at Arnaud’s French 75 Bar in New Orleans. “The Lafayette Escadrille were an allied fighter pilot outfit made up of American and French military who would drink cognac and Champagne after successful air raids and toast to the French 75 cannon for their safety.” Some cite Harry’s New York Bar in Paris—also in the pro-Cognac camp—for making the drink popular. Today it’s more common to see the cocktail made with gin, which is what you‘ll find in our recipe, but either works well. If you prefer cognac, Pierre Ferrand is a good choice. Serve this classic cocktail in Champagne flutes for the full effect.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    5 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes 1

Ingredients

1½ ounces gin, such as Hendrick's
¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
¾ ounce simple syrup
2 ounces Champagne
Long spiral lemon twist (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.

    Step 2

    Strain cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into a large flute. Top with Champagne; garnish with lemon twist.

    Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in our May 2016 issue and first appeared online in April 2016.

TagsCocktailAlcoholBeveragesGinChampagneSparkling WineWineLemonCitrusFruitFrenchEuropeanBon Appétit

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Bicycle Bandit
A riff on the Bicycle Thief cocktail, a citrusy, low ABV riff on a Negroni, this three-ingredient, party-ready twist features grapefruit soda.
Beergarita
The beergarita perfectly encapsulates laid-back summer sipping in a single pitcher, combining the familiarity of a margarita with the effervescence of beer.
Sea Breeze
Gourmet’s version of this perfect summer drink mixes the ideal ratio of vodka with cranberry and grapefruit juices, right in the glass.
Beurre Blanc
This velvety white wine sauce imparts tangy, rich flavor to everything it touches.
Tomato Martini
Sweet, savory, and way too easy to drink.
Hugo Spritz
With elderflower liqueur, mint, and prosecco, the effervescent Hugo spritz cocktail is a hit year round, but particularly on warm nights.
Zabaglione
A light, frothy Italian dessert made from egg yolks, sugar, and Prosecco, this easy zabaglione recipe is perfect served warm with fruit and biscotti.
Caramelized Shallots
A buttery white wine glaze makes these an ideal holiday side, but leftovers are just as good on a cheeseboard or sandwich.
SEO Dek: Seared and simmered in white wine and chicken broth, these buttery caramelized shallots are an ideal holiday side dish. Stack the leftovers on a sandwich.