Combining gin, lemon juice, and a little sugar shaken over ice and lengthened with chilled Champagne, the French 75 has been recognized by the International Bartenders Association as a Contemporary Classic. The shaken sour base is strained into a Collins glass, topped with sparkling wine, and finished with an orange slice and a maraschino cherry. The interplay of botanical gin, sharp citrus acidity, and effervescent wine yields a drink that is both bright and bracing, with the bubbles carrying its aromatics. Its name, sometimes rendered in French as the Soixante Quinze, has accompanied it through a long history reaching back to the First World War. The relatively low strength of around 9 percent alcohol by volume reflects the dominance of Champagne in the build.
French 75
Soixante Quinze
Ingrédients
- Gin 1 1/2 oz
- Sugar 2 tsp superfine
- Lemon Juice 1 1/2 oz
- Champagne 4 oz Chilled
- Orange 1
- Maraschino cherry 1
Instructions
Combine gin, sugar, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled champagne glass. Top up with Champagne. Stir gently.
Le French 75 est un « Contemporary Classic » de l'IBA qui associe gin, jus de citron et sucre shakés ensemble, puis complété de champagne et servi dans un verre Collins avec une rondelle d'orange et une cerise. L'acidité effervescente de la boisson et sa base de gin botanique en ont fait un favori depuis la Première Guerre mondiale. C'est l'un des cocktails les plus élégants et les plus durablement populaires du répertoire classique.
History & Origins
The French 75 was reportedly created during World War I and named after the French 75mm field gun, whose punch it was said to replicate. The earliest published recipe appeared in 'Here's How' by Judge Jr. in 1927. Some accounts attribute it to Harry MacElhone of Harry's New York Bar in Paris. It was recognized by the IBA as a Contemporary Classic.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: bright gin botanicals and lemon citrus with the toasty, yeasty effervescence of Champagne. Palate: tart and citrus-forward with juniper from the gin, a sweet counterpoint from the sugar, and the dry sparkling wine adding elegance and lift. Finish: crisp, dry, and refreshing with a long, lingering citrus and botanical fade.
Pro Tip
Shake the gin, lemon juice, and sugar vigorously with ice before adding the Champagne, which should always be poured gently into the glass after straining to preserve its carbonation.
Techniques utilisées
Embed on your site — CocktailFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-cocktailfyi="recipe" data-slug="french-75"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://cocktailfyi.com/iframe/recipe/french-75/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="CocktailFYI recipe widget"></iframe>
Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/french-75/
Add a badge linking back to CocktailFYI.
<a href="https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/french-75/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://cocktailfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="CocktailFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the CocktailFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-recipe site="cocktailfyi" slug="french-75"]
Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<cocktailfyi-recipe slug="french-75" theme="light"></cocktailfyi-recipe>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
Powered by CocktailFYI
Docs →