The French 75 is a staple for bars and restaurants across the globe. With its rich history and light, citrusy flavour, this timeless classic is perfect for a range of occasions, from afternoon brunches to sophisticated dinners and evening parties.
And the best thing about it? It is super simple to make with minimal ingredients!
Our guide will explore the history behind the French 75, how you can mix the perfect cocktail at home with our easy recipe, and the different variations you can make to add a fun twist to the classic.
What is a French 75 Cocktail?
The French 75 is a classic cocktail that has earned a permanent spot on cocktail menus around the world. Using only four ingredients, this refreshing, bubbly, and sweet beverage is a favourite for evening events and afternoon brunches alike. A mix of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne; the French 75 is a strong but sophisticated drink of choice.
History of the French 75
Considered a wartime classic, the French 75 is said to have originated in France during World War 1 with its name referencing French 75-millimeter field guns that were used widely during the war.
Despite this, it is not completely clear how the creation of the cocktail classic came about, though it was likely the result of experimentation. Gin and champagne was a popular combination in the 19th and early-20th centuries. By adding sugar and lemon, the classic French 75 was born.
Classic French 75 Ingredients
Creating the French 75 could not be easier. Utilising only four core ingredients, this drink is perfect for both amateur and seasoned mixologists to make in the comfort of their own home. You will need:
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30ml of quality gin
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20ml of fresh lemon juice
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10ml of simple syrup
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Champagne
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Ice
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Lemon twist
Despite its simplicity, each ingredient adds a different element to the drink, making the French 75 a perfectly balanced cocktail.
Gin
For the perfect French 75 cocktail, it is important that you choose a high-quality gin for its base. The carefully curated range of botanicals used in Filey Distillery’s signature gin creates a unique flavour profile that perfectly complements the crisp, citrus notes of the classic cocktail.
Lemon juice
Freshly squeezed lemon juice is the best option if you are looking to create the perfect French 75. Although you can use shop-bought lemon juice, squeezing your own lemon juice adds a freshness and brighter flavour to the cocktail.
Simple syrup
Simple syrup adds the all-important sweetness to the French 75, balancing out the citrus of the lemon juice and the dryness of the champagne. Like the lemon juice, you can use shop-bought syrup, though adding your own homemade syrup will add more depth to the flavour.
You can make your own syrup by mixing sugar and water together, heating it in a saucepan over a medium heat, and stirring until the sugar is all dissolved - simple!
Champagne
The French 75 wouldn’t be bubbly and crisp without the addition of champagne. You don’t need to use the most expensive champagne to make a good French 75, and some people might opt for cheaper alternatives altogether like presecco or cava.
The most important thing to consider is the flavour profile of the champagne. You want a champagne that isn’t too dry or too sweet. Instead, it should perfectly balance out the sweetness of the syrup and the sharpness of the lemon juice.
Make sure your champagne is chilled before serving for the best results.
How to Make the Classic French 75
Making the French 75 is quick and straightforward. Simply follow the steps below:
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Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice
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Shake until well-chilled
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Strain the liquid into a champagne flute
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Top up the glass with your champagne
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Garnish the cocktail with a lemon twist
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Enjoy!
Variations on the French 75
An adaptable cocktail, the French 75 has plenty of variations to explore and find your favourite:
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French 76: The French 76 is made by substituting the gin for vodka. Offering a more neutral flavour than gin, the vodka lets the other elements of the cocktail sing. Find out more about the difference between gin and vodka.
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French 77: The French 77 uses elderflower liqueur instead of simple syrup to add a more floral flavour profile to the drink.
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French 95: French 95s use bourbon as a base instead of gin. Using a whiskey adds a smokier, richer flavour to the cocktail. Read more about how gin and whiskey are different.
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French 125: Adding cognac to your drink instead of gin will give you a French 125. This offers a heavier alternative to the light, bright flavours of the French 75.
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French .45: The French .45 substitutes the gin base for brandy, creating a warmer, fuller version of the classic cocktail.
You can also change up the flavour profile by experimenting with fruit juices and flavoured syrups!
Food Pairings for the French 75
The French 75 is a versatile cocktail and pairs well with a lot of different foods. Its light, bubbly feel and lemon and citrus flavours pair particularly well with the following:
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Seafood dishes: Oysters, smoked salmon, and shrimp cocktails all work well with the lemony flavours of the cocktail.
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Charcuterie board: The sharp, citrus notes of the French 75 balance out the rich, saltiness of the meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board.
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Sweet treats: The bright, bubbliness of the drink complements rich, buttery sweet treats like pastries and macarons without being overpowering.
So when you next choose to mix yourself a refreshing French 75, why not enhance your drinking experience by treating yourself to some salty snacks or sweet nibbles?
Find more inspiration with our gin and cheese pairing guide.
Top Tips and Tricks for Creating the Perfect French 75
Master the ‘quick shake’
When shaking the gin, syrup, lemon juice, and ice together, it is important that you don’t overshake. Whilst you want to ensure the drink is chilled, overshaking can lead to it becoming overdiluted.
Mastering the art of the ‘quick shake’ will help you make sure the drink is chilled but still has all the flavours coming through. This is important for cocktails like the French 75 that are lengthened with additional ingredients like champagne. Shaking the cocktail for around 5 seconds should be enough to chill it without risking any flavour being lost.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
The French 75 is a versatile drink and you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with different variations to find out which suits you best. Whether this is swapping out the gin for another base or trying different flavours of syrup and fruit juices, test out different flavour profiles and see which one best pleases your pallet.
Every variation brings something different to the cocktail. Have fun with it and enjoy coming up with your very own twist on a timeless classic!
Create the cocktail in batches
Whether you are hosting brunches, parties, or other evening events, there are many occasions where you might want to serve large quantities of cocktails for your guests. The good news is, the French 75 is a perfect cocktail for preparing in batches to easily cater for larger groups of people.
All you need to do is multiply the measurements of the gin, syrup, and lemon juice by the number of people you are serving, mix them together in a large, sealable container the day before the event, and refrigerate this overnight.
When you are ready to serve the cocktails, mix your pre-batched base again, shake what you need with ice, strain the liquid into your glasses, top up with champagne and add your garnish!
Conclusion
So, the next time you are looking to make a quick and easy cocktail that will almost certainly be a crowd-pleaser, why not choose the French 75? This timeless tipple suits a range of occasions and its versatility allows you to get creative and put your own spin on it.
Light, bright, bubbly, and sophisticated - it’s no surprise that the French 75 has solidified itself as a cocktail classic!
