Recipes

French 75

Named after a powerful World War I artillery piece, the French 75 is a cocktail that is as potent as it is elegant. It's a celebratory and effervescent drink that combines the botanicals of gin with the bright acidity of lemon, all topped with festive Champagne.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ oz London Dry Gin
  • ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ¾ oz Simple Syrup
  • 3 oz Brut Champagne (or other dry sparkling wine)
  • Garnish: Long Lemon Twist

Instructions

  1. Chill Your Glass: A French 75 is traditionally served in a tall, elegant Champagne flute to preserve its carbonation. Chill your flute thoroughly.
  2. Shake the Base: In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake Vigorously: Seal the shaker and shake hard for about 15 seconds until the outside is frosty cold. This chills and perfectly dilutes the base of your cocktail.
  4. Strain: Strain the chilled mixture into your prepared Champagne flute. It should fill the glass about halfway.
  5. Top with Bubbles: Slowly and gently top the drink with chilled Champagne or dry sparkling wine.
  6. Garnish: Express the oils from a long lemon twist over the surface of the drink for aroma, then drop it into the glass.

Pro Tips for Perfection

Use Dry Sparkling Wine: The "Brut" in Brut Champagne means it is very dry, with little residual sugar. This is essential for a balanced French 75. Using a sweet sparkling wine like Asti Spumante will make the drink cloyingly sweet. A good quality Prosecco or Cava are excellent and affordable alternatives to Champagne.

The Garnish is Key: The aromatic oils from the lemon twist are a crucial component of the drink's flavor profile. Don't skip this step! A long, elegant twist cut with a channel knife adds a professional, visual flair.

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