According to some sources, the French 75 is described as the only American classic cocktail born during Prohibition. But dig deeper, and that provenance becomes cloudy; in the mid-1800s Charles Dickens wrote about enjoying a gin and champagne cocktail that sounds suspiciously similar to what we now know as the French 75. Origins aside, the very makeup of this legendary drink is contested; the earliest versions are based on cognac, while gin only entered the picture later. But both are great! As cocktail historian David Wondrich explains, it’s not about who invented the drink but when the name was applied and stuck. When the formula combining gin or cognac, Champagne, lemon, and sugar took on the name of a World War I French army field gun, known for firing as many as 15 rounds a minute, the French 75 took on a life of its own.
French 75
Ingredients
- 2 oz London Dry Gin or Cognac
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/2 oz Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 4 oz Champagne or Other Sparkling Wine, Chilled, to Top
Method
- Add gin/cognac, syrup and Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice to shaker, add ice and shake until chilled.
- Pour into a chilled champagne flute or highball glass.
- Top with sparkling wine and stir gently.
- Garnish with a lemon twist, expressed over the top of the cocktail and dropped in.
Equipment
- Shaker
- Mixing Glass
- Bar Spoon
- Peeler or Knife