Classic French 75 Cocktail
Dating back to World War I Paris, a Classic French 75 Cocktails never disappoints. Equal parts gin and lemon juice, and topped with sparkling wine, French 75s are delightfully refreshing and citrusy. Perfect for holidays, special occasions, or any time you want to feel a little fancy.
Origins of a Classic French 75 Cocktail
Any time I drink a classic French 75 cocktail I feel so classy. Like I should be wearing some expensive jewelry and an evening dress, sipping on my cocktail in a swanky jazz club in the 20s or 30s.
In reality, I’m usually wearing Disney pajamas, fuzzy socks, sitting on my couch, and sipping my cocktail while watching Parks and Rec for the umpteenth time…but a girl can dream.
I’ve heard several versions of how this classic cocktail got its name, but my favorite version goes a little something like this:
During the First World War, a bartender in Paris combined gin, lemon juice, sugar and ice in a cocktail shaker, poured it into a coupe glass and topped it with Champagne. When one of his patrons tried the cocktail, he said it was so powerful it felt like being shelled by French 75 field gun. So needless to say, this little cocktail packs a punch!
What’s In a Classic French 75 Cocktail?
My version of the Classic French 75 combines Bombay Sapphire gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, demerara sugar cubes, and is topped with sparkling Moscato wine. I use sparkling Moscato instead of Champagne for three reasons –
- A good bottle of Moscato is way less expensive than a good bottle of Champagne.
- A good bottle of Moscato tastes a lot better than a cheap bottle of Champagne.
- Moscato is sweeter than Champagne meaning I can just use a sugar cube instead of making simple syrup anytime I want a French 75.
How Should I Serve a Classic French 75 Cocktail?
Classic French 75s cocktails are great anytime of the year, but I especially like to serve them when the temperature starts to drop outside and holiday get togethers ramp up.
These cocktails are great with roasted chicken and veggies, creamy pasta dishes, even beef stew or pot roast.
Because there are so many different flavors going on in the cocktail (i.e. juniper, lemon, and sweetness from the Moscato) they help cut through rich, fatty dishes.
Just be forewarned, two of these cocktails will put just about anyone under the table, so make sure to go slow! Unless that’s your goal, so in that case, drink up!
A Holiday Tradition
My absolute favorite time to make my classic French 75 cocktails, however, is on New Year’s Eve. My husband and I started a tradition about two years ago where we order Chinese food, watch old movies, drink French 75s, and stay in for the night.
I think my stomach was bothering me from something I ate at a holiday party or restaurant (oh hey there, gluten intolerance!) and we were having a typical Midwest winter, so we cancelled our NYE plans and hunkered down for the evening. We ordered Chinese takeout from our favorite local restaurant that has great GF options, and I made us some classic French 75s cocktails.
Armed with our DVD set of The Thin Man movies, we watched Nick and Nora Charles solve crimes, attend parties, celebrate the holidays, and drink copious amounts of gin. It was fantastic and a tradition we now look forward to every year.
Drink Up!
So don’t be a jive turkey, make a Classic French 75 Cocktail at your next party or anytime you want to feel swanky. It’s refreshing, tart, sweet, bubbly, and can turn the most mundane occasions into a roaring good time. In other words, it’s the bee’s knees!
Be sure to tag me on social if you make it. Cheers to you, friend!
Classic French 75 Cocktail
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dry gin I prefer Bombay Sapphire
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 sugar cube preferably demerara
- 1 cup of ice cubes
- ¼ cup sparkling Moscato chilled
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, sugar cube and ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled champagne flute or coupe glass and top with Moscato. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
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4 Comments
Dena Al-Khatib
Hilarious! I’m drinking one right now. We actually found a recipe from 1920s France that uses 1 tsp Pernod instead of simple syrup. If you like anise, I highly recommend.
Another variation we like – sparkling rose instead of white.
Ashley
I like the sparkling rose idea! I’ll have to give that a try, thanks for the suggestion!
Martina
I can’t wait to make these for Christmas Eve dinner! Thanks for sharing Ashley!
Ashley
Thanks, Martina!