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French 75 Recipe

French 75
Difficulty: Easy | Total Time: | Makes: 6 drinks

Thought this recipe was given to us by author and former Gramercy Tavern managing partner Nick Mautone, it is a classic cocktail. Named after a piece of artillery during World War I, this drink was originally made with gin. Over time it became more popular using brandy.

INGREDIENTS
  • 6 cubes brown or white sugar, or 3 teaspoons granulated brown or white sugar
  • 12 dashes orange bitters
  • 6 ounces gin or brandy
  • 6 lemon wedges
  • 1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled
  • 6 orange twists
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. In each of 6 glasses place 1 sugar cube or 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 2 dashes of the orange bitters, and 1 ounce of the gin or brandy.
  2. Squeeze a lemon wedge into each glass and discard the wedge. Stir.
  3. Divide the sparkling wine evenly among the glasses, garnish each glass with an orange twist, and serve.
    Write a review | 12 Reviews
  • French 75 Recipe
    5

    We agree that this is an awesome drink. Had our first in New Hope, PA and our second in Lisbon at the Ritz. When we make it at home we use a Champanois to save some $. Also have recently swiched to Vodka since my wife can't stomach gin anymore.

  • French 75 Recipe
    4

    The gin or brandy argument dates back to WWI. British and American officers came to war drinking gin and bourbon, but soon had to adapt to what liquirs were available in France. Brandy was substituted for whisky and gin. The availability of champagne plus the local cognac combined to make the first "Soixante Quinze" a potent front line drink with a kick like the artillery gun it was named after. Since the war the recipe has been smoothed out with sugar, lemon and othe frivolities, but the original drink was just brandy/cognac and champagne.

  • French 75 Recipe
    2

    My favorite cocktail by far, but as other comments point out -- it should not have bitters. A proper French 75 is only gin, champagne, simple syrup and lemon juice. Be warned, these go down easy and hit hard!!

  • I need to taste them all to make a comment and by then I probably couldn't think.
    Yum

  • I appreciate the new found interest in using bitters. Bitters have been neglected for so long, it is nice to see a resurgence in their use.

    The French 75, however, should NOT include bitters.
    The base spirit is either Gin or Cognac.
    Lemon juice with sugar, or simple syrup,
    Champagne.
    Period.

    Feel free to add bitters and an orange twist, if you like. But doing so will substantially change the flavor composition of the drink, and it is then more like a "Frobisher" cocktail.

  • I had one for my first time ever in San Fransisco at a place called Absynthe and it was amazing they made theres with
    Gin
    lemon juice
    simple syrup
    champagne
    a lemon curl
    and the best of all was a little spear of real brandied cherries it was amazing I do not drink Gin and would never taint my champagne with even a drop of OJ but my golly this was amazing I want one now

  • Bosbinn has it right, except for the twist of lemon!

  • Here's my recipe:

    1/2 lemon
    1/2 oz simple syrup
    1 1/2 oz gin

    Juice the lemon into a shaker with ice, add the rind, simple syrup and gin. Shake well, strain into a flute and top with your bubbly of choice.

    For a different twist, try using Aperol instead of gin, and Prossecco for the bubbly. I call it a Settanta Cinque (75 in Italian).

  • This sounds like just the sort of elegant drink for very chic (but fun) cocktail parties. Maybe on an uptown rooftop patio, perhaps?

  • In France the 75 is made up of champagne and cognac,sugar cubes--period

  • Quite different than the recipe that I use -- this one reminds me more of the old-school champagne cocktails found in books such as Charles Baker's "The Gentleman's Companion". The 75 recipe that I use regularly is:

    4 oz champagne
    1/4 oz gin
    1/4 oz Cointreau
    1/4 oz lemon juice

    It's always a hit at our parties.

  • Yum! Used Regans' Orange Bitters. You can buy them online! http://www.buffalotrace.com/giftshop/...

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