French 75 cocktail recipe

A sophisticated combination of gin and Champagne, the French 75 is right up there when it comes to classy cocktails. The herbaceous notes of the gin mix with the sharp acidity of the bubbles and tart lemon juice, giving this cocktail a strong flavour profile. Served in a flute, it’s the perfect card to pull when you want to one-up your usual bubbles.

As is common for cocktails created in the early 20th century, the OG drink first coined as the French 75 – or Soixante Quinze in French – is virtually unrecognisable from the one known today. First mentioned in a piece in The Washington Herald in 1915, the original recipe contained gin, apple brandy, grenadine and lemon juice and was served in a highball glass. The story alluded to the drink originating at the front of WWI, and is universally thought to be named after the fast-firing 75mm French field gun that was celebrated as an integral part of America and their allies victory. Anyone who tried the drink back then agreed it certainly did pack a punch!

The French 75 flourished in Paris, naturally, where it was served by legendary bartender Harry MacElhone, who then took it with him to London, and featured it in the fourth edition of his famous cocktail recipes book, Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails, in 1926. Eventually, somehow, the recipe evolved into the cocktail we know and love today.

Although this cocktail traditionally calls for Champagne, you can of course use any sparkling wine of your choice for the bubbly element. Alternatively, if you top it up with soda water instead, you’ve got yourself a Tom Collins cocktail. Many recipes also call for the addition of a couple of drops of bitters, and there have been lots of fun variations of the French 75 created in recent years. 

To make it a French 76, simply use vodka instead of gin. Or, if you prefer tequila in its place, you have yourself a Mexican 55. Having fun experimenting? Mix up a French 77, created by famed mixologist Simon Difford in 2006, by subbing in elderflower liqueur instead of the gin.