Our French 75 Cocktail recipe uses gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. It’s crisp, bubbly, and refreshing, with just enough sweetness to balance the gin’s tart lemon and botanical notes.
What I love about our French 75 Cocktail Recipe is how this simple combination of ingredients can make an elegant, restaurant-quality cocktail. The bright citrus and gin give it plenty of character, while the Champagne lightens everything up with a crisp, effervescent finish.
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And don’t let the Champagne make you think this cocktail is just for special occasions. It’s easy to make at home and comes together in just a few minutes, making it a great choice for everything from brunch and cocktail hour to holidays and special occasions.
And if you’re looking for cocktails for special occasions, make sure to try our Cosmopolitan and Hugo Spritz cocktails are great options.
The French 75 is named after the French 75mm field gun during the First World War, giving a rather delicate-looking Champagne cocktail a surprisingly formidable namesake as it packs quite a punch.
Early versions of drinks called the French 75 cocktail recipe varied, and both gin and Cognac have been associated with the cocktail over the years. The gin-based version became the standard and was included in Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930, helping establish the recipe we recognize today.
Ingredients
Our classic French 75 cocktail recipe only needs a few ingredients, so each one plays an important role. London dry gin provides the botanical backbone, fresh lemon juice adds bright acidity, and simple syrup balances the tartness.
Chilled brut Champagne brings crispness and bubbles, while a lemon twist adds a fresh citrus aroma to the finished cocktail.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Gin: London dry gin is my first choice for a classic French 75. Its crisp, botanical flavor works well with the lemon and Champagne. You can use your favorite gin, but heavily floral or flavored gins will alter the cocktail’s character.
- Champagne: Brut Champagne is the traditional choice, giving the cocktail a dry, crisp finish. You don’t need to use an expensive bottle. A good-quality dry sparkling wine, such as Cava or Prosecco, can also be used. Prosecco will generally give the cocktail a fruitier, slightly sweeter character.
- Simple syrup: I use regular simple syrup made with equal parts sugar and water. If you prefer a drier cocktail, reduce the amount slightly rather than leaving it out completely.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives you the best flavor. I don’t recommend bottled lemon juice for this cocktail because the fresh citrus is such an important part of the drink.
Recipe Variations
- Cognac French 75: Replace the gin with Cognac for a richer, warmer version of the cocktail.
- French 76: Replace the gin with vodka for a cleaner, more neutral cocktail that lets the lemon and sparkling wine take center stage.
How to Make a French 75 Cocktail
Making a French 75 couldn’t be easier. The key is to start with well-chilled ingredients and add the Champagne at the end so you don’t lose those beautiful bubbles.
- Add the gin to a cocktail shaker.
- Add the lemon juice to the shaker.
- Add the simple syrup to the shaker.
- Add the ice to the shaker.
Shake for about 10-12 seconds, until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
- Slowly top with the chilled Champagne.
- Give the drink one very gentle stir to integrate the ingredients without knocking out the bubbles.
- Express a long lemon twist over the cocktail and use it as the garnish.
Chef Tips for the Best French 75
- Chill everything: Start with cold Champagne and, if possible, a chilled glass. The colder the cocktail is when you serve it, the longer it will stay crisp and refreshing.
- Shake before adding the Champagne: Only the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup go into the shaker with ice. Add the Champagne after straining the cocktail into the glass.
- Don’t over-shake: About 10-12 seconds is all you need to thoroughly chill and dilute the gin mixture.
- Pour the Champagne slowly: Adding it gradually helps preserve the carbonation and keeps the cocktail from foaming over.
- Stir gently: After adding the Champagne, one gentle stir is enough to combine everything. Too much stirring will knock out the bubbles, which is exactly what your existing instructions caution against.
- Use fresh lemon juice: With so few ingredients, there’s nowhere for inferior lemon juice to hide. Freshly squeezed juice gives the French 75 its clean, bright citrus flavor.
- Express the lemon peel: Before adding the lemon twist, hold it over the glass and gently twist it to release the citrus oils over the surface of the cocktail. That’s a tiny step that adds a wonderful lemon aroma with your first sip.
The French 75 is a good reminder that a great cocktail doesn’t need a long ingredient list. When you’re working with just gin, lemon, simple syrup, and Champagne, the quality and balance of those ingredients really matter.
For me, the key is keeping the cocktail bright and crisp. The lemon should balance the sweetness of the simple syrup, while the Champagne adds acidity, dryness, and those wonderful bubbles. You should still taste the gin, but it shouldn’t overpower the rest of the drink.
Serving Suggestions
A French 75 is elegant enough for a special occasion but easy enough to serve for brunch or cocktail hour. The combination of bright lemon, botanical gin, and dry Champagne makes it especially good with lighter appetizers and seafood.
- Brunch: Serve a French 75 with eggs Benedict, quiche, smoked salmon, or pastries.
- Appetizers: Pair it with shrimp cocktail, oysters, baked Brie, or a simple cheese board.
- Seafood: The bright citrus and crisp Champagne work especially well with crab cakes, scallops, shrimp, and other seafood dishes.
- Celebrations: It’s a natural choice for New Year’s Eve, bridal showers, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and other occasions when Champagne is already part of the party.
What Glass Should I Use for a French 75?
A Champagne flute is my first choice for serving a French 75. Its narrow shape helps preserve the bubbles and gives the cocktail its classic, elegant presentation.
A coupe also works if that’s what you have, although the wider surface area allows the Champagne to lose its carbonation a little faster.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup shortly before your guests arrive and keep the mixture refrigerated. Pour individual servings into glasses and top each one with chilled Champagne just before serving. Don’t add the Champagne to the batch ahead of time, or you’ll lose the carbonation
Yes. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a glass or a small pitcher with ice, then stir until well chilled. Strain it into your serving glass and finish with Champagne. Shaking is my preferred method, but you can still make a very good French 75 without a shaker.
Yes. Use a non-alcoholic gin alternative and alcohol-free sparkling wine in place of the gin and Champagne. Depending on the products you use, you may need to adjust the simple syrup to balance the sweetness.
You can, but it won’t have the classic flavor of a French 75. Lemon works particularly well with the botanical notes of gin and the acidity of Champagne. Lime will give the drink a sharper, distinctly different citrus character.
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Classic French 75 Cocktail
This classic French 75 cocktail is made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and brut Champagne. Crisp, bubbly, and refreshing, it’s an elegant cocktail that’s easy to make for brunch, holidays, and special occasions.
Equipment
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cocktail shaker For chilling and combining the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
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Jigger Makes it easy to accurately measure the cocktail ingredients and keep everything balanced.
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cocktail strainer Use it to strain the chilled gin mixture into your glass without transferring the ice.
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Citrus juicer Helpful for getting the most juice from fresh lemons while keeping the seeds out.
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Channel knife or vegetable peeler Either works for making the long lemon twist used to garnish the cocktail.
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Champagne flute or coupe I prefer a flute because its narrow shape helps preserve the carbonation, but a coupe can also be used.
Ingredients
- 1 oz London dry gin
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 3 oz chilled brut Champagne
- Ice
- Long lemon twist for garnish
Instructions
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Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
-
Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.
-
Add the ice to the shaker.
-
Shake for about 10-12 seconds, until well chilled.
-
Strain into a chilled Champagne flute.
-
Slowly top with the chilled Champagne.
-
Give the drink one very gentle stir to integrate the ingredients without knocking out the bubbles.
-
Express a long lemon twist over the cocktail and use it as the garnish.
-
Serve immediately.
Notes
- Gin: London dry gin is my first choice for a classic French 75. Its crisp, botanical flavor works well with the lemon and Champagne. You can use your favorite gin, but heavily floral or flavored gins will alter the cocktail’s character.
- Champagne: Brut Champagne is the traditional choice, giving the cocktail a dry, crisp finish. You don’t need to use an expensive bottle. A good-quality dry sparkling wine, such as Cava or Prosecco, can also be used. Prosecco will generally give the cocktail a fruitier, slightly sweeter character.
- Simple syrup: I use regular simple syrup made with equal parts sugar and water. If you prefer a drier cocktail, reduce the amount slightly rather than leaving it out completely.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice gives you the best flavor. I don’t recommend bottled lemon juice for this cocktail because the fresh citrus is such an important part of the drink.
Recipe Variations
- Cognac French 75: Replace the gin with Cognac for a richer, warmer version of the cocktail.
- French 76: Replace the gin with vodka for a cleaner, more neutral cocktail that lets the lemon and sparkling wine take center stage.
Chef Tips for the Best French 75
- Chill everything: Start with cold Champagne and, if possible, a chilled glass. The colder the cocktail is when you serve it, the longer it will stay crisp and refreshing.
- Shake before adding the Champagne: Only the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup go into the shaker with ice. Add the Champagne after straining the cocktail into the glass.
- Don’t over-shake: About 10-12 seconds is all you need to thoroughly chill and dilute the gin mixture.
- Pour the Champagne slowly: Adding it gradually helps preserve the carbonation and keeps the cocktail from foaming over.
- Stir gently: After adding the Champagne, one gentle stir is enough to combine everything. Too much stirring will knock out the bubbles, which is exactly what your existing instructions caution against.
- Use fresh lemon juice: With so few ingredients, there’s nowhere for inferior lemon juice to hide. Freshly squeezed juice gives the French 75 its clean, bright citrus flavor.
- Express the lemon peel: Before adding the lemon twist, hold it over the glass and gently twist it to release the citrus oils over the surface of the cocktail. That’s a tiny step that adds a wonderful lemon aroma with your first sip.
Serving Suggestions
A French 75 is elegant enough for a special occasion but easy enough to serve for brunch or cocktail hour. The combination of bright lemon, botanical gin, and dry Champagne makes it especially good with lighter appetizers and seafood.
- Brunch: Serve a French 75 with eggs Benedict, quiche, smoked salmon, or pastries.
- Appetizers: Pair it with shrimp cocktail, oysters, baked Brie, or a simple cheese board.
- Seafood: The bright citrus and crisp Champagne work especially well with crab cakes, scallops, shrimp, and other seafood dishes.
- Celebrations: It’s a natural choice for New Year’s Eve, bridal showers, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and other occasions when Champagne is already part of the party.
What Glass Should I Use for a French 75?
A Champagne flute is my first choice for serving a French 75. Its narrow shape helps preserve the bubbles and gives the cocktail its classic, elegant presentation.
A coupe also works if that’s what you have, although the wider surface area allows the Champagne to lose its carbonation a little faster.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make a French 75 without a cocktail shaker?
Yes. Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a glass or a small pitcher with ice, then stir until well chilled. Strain it into your serving glass and finish with Champagne. Shaking is my preferred method, but you can still make a very good French 75 without a shaker.
Can I make a non-alcoholic French 75?
Yes. Use a non-alcoholic gin alternative and alcohol-free sparkling wine in place of the gin and Champagne. Depending on the products you use, you may need to adjust the simple syrup to balance the sweetness.
Can I use lime instead of lemon in a French 75?
You can, but it won’t have the classic flavor of a French 75. Lemon works particularly well with the botanical notes of gin and the acidity of Champagne. Lime will give the drink a sharper, distinctly different citrus character.
Can I make French 75 cocktails for a party?
Yes. You can combine the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup shortly before your guests arrive and keep the mixture refrigerated. Pour individual servings into glasses and top each one with chilled Champagne just before serving. Don’t add the Champagne to the batch ahead of time, or you’ll lose the carbonation
Nutrition
Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.03gSaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 15mgPotassium: 99mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
