Named after the devastating French 75mm field gun of World War I, this cocktail first appeared in Harry MacElhone’s 1922 cocktail guide at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The recipe took its now-classic form in 1927 — gin shaken with lemon juice and sugar, then topped with champagne in a tall glass. It was popularized stateside at the Stork Club in New York and became a symbol of celebration. Some versions substitute cognac for gin, a tradition championed by David Embury in his influential 1948 book. Either way, the French 75 hits with citrus brightness lifted by effervescence, a cocktail that’s as festive as it is potent.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 2 tsp superfine sugar
- 1 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 4 oz chilled Champagne
- 1 slice orange
- 1 maraschino cherry
Instructions
- In a shaker half-filled with ice cubes, combine the gin, sugar, and lemon juice.
- Shake well.
- Pour into a collins glass.
- Top with the champagne.
- Stir well and garnish with the orange slice and the cherry.
Serve In
Collins Glass
Photo Gallery
At a Bar
At Home
Outdoors
