French 75 cocktail in a flute — Champagne

French 75 Cocktail Recipe

refreshing sour boozy

gin, lemon, simple syrup, champagne

History

The French 75 is named after the powerful French 75mm field gun of World War I, known for its rapid fire and hard-hitting effect. Early wartime versions called “Soixante-Quinze” (often gin, Calvados, and grenadine) appeared in Paris around 1915. The modern form—gin, lemon, sugar, and Champagne—solidified in the late 1920s and was popularized by Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book (1930). Think of it as a Champagne-topped Tom Collins served in a flute so the bubbles stay lively. One ounce of gin is plenty — more turns it into a sour with a splash of wine. If gin, lemon, and a bottle of sparkling wine are already in the pantry, this is the celebration pour to mix before you buy a mixing glass for a Martini.

Ingredients

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How to make

  1. Chill a flute in the freezer so the Champagne does not foam over when you pour.
  2. Add 1 oz gin, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, and ½ oz simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
  3. Cognac from the pantry is the older Paris spec if you would rather skip gin.
  4. Shake until the shaker is frosty.
  5. Strain into the flute — no ice in the glass.
  6. Top with cold Champagne (or a dry sparkling wine you already own) and stir once so the gin mixes without killing the bubbles.
  7. Garnish with a long lemon twist.

Glassware

Flute

Tall and narrow so sparkling wine stays fizzy longer and the bubbles rise in a clean stream.

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Flute glassware

French 75 FAQ

Is a French 75 made with gin or Champagne?

Both. Shake 1 oz gin with lemon juice and simple syrup, strain into a flute, and top with Champagne. Cognac from the pantry is the older Paris spec if you would rather skip gin.

What ingredients are in a French 75?

A French 75 is made with gin, lemon, simple syrup, and champagne. Amounts and pantry matching are in the ingredients list on this page.

How do you make a French 75?

Chill a flute in the freezer so the Champagne does not foam over when you pour. Add 1 oz gin, ½ oz fresh lemon juice, and ½ oz simple syrup to a shaker with ice. Cognac from the pantry is the older Paris spec if you would rather skip gin. Shake until the shaker is frosty. Strain into the flute — no ice in the glass. Top with cold Champagne (or a dry sparkling wine you already own) and stir once so the gin mixes without killing the bubbles. Garnish with a long lemon twist.

What glass do you serve a French 75 in?

Serve a French 75 in a Flute. Tall and narrow so sparkling wine stays fizzy longer and the bubbles rise in a clean stream.

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