Elevate upcoming celebrations by adding gin, lemon, and a bit of sugar to your favorite champagne to create a classic French 75. Also known as a 75 Cocktail, or a Soixante Quinze in French, this brunch-y drink is a bit stronger than a Mimosa, and more elegant than a Bloody Mary. It’s perfect for cocktail hour, too, so you’ll want to add the recipe to your go-to cocktail reservoir.
Who Made the First French 75?
Harry MacElhone published The ABC of Mixing Drinks in 1919, and he included a recipe for a drink called a French 75, the first written record of the drink. He credited it to a bartender named “MacGarry” of Buck’s Club in London, but who MacGarry exactly was has never been vetted. Legend has it that English the first one in a 75-millimeter artillery shell. If you happen to have this at home, you are…in the minority. Otherwise, you can serve it in a flute.
Classic French 75
Description
This cocktail is a classic for a reason.
Ingredients
- 1 oz Wigle Whiskey Gin
- 1/2 oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1.2 oz simple syrup
- 3 oz champagne
- Lemon twist to garnish
Notes
- Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a champagne glass.
- Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
If you enjoyed learning how to craft a French 75, check out our other classic cocktail recipes.
Recipe by Anna Franklin
Photography by Dave Bryce
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