🥃 French 75

French 75 is a classic gin cocktail with lemon, sugar and Champagne, found on bar menus from London to New York. The International Bartenders Association (IBA) lists it among the Contemporary Classics: 30 ml gin, 15 ml each of lemon juice and sugar syrup, and 60 ml Champagne in a flute. The name is usually linked to the French 75 mm field gun of the First World War.

Origins. According to Difford’s Guide, the earliest known mention dates from 1915, in the Washington Herald newspaper: “Soixante-Quinze” made with gin, grenadine, apple brandy and a drop of lemon. The name was probably coined by Henry Tépé of Henry’s Bar in Paris. In 1922 Robert Vermeire first described the “75” in a cocktail book.

How the recipe changed. In 1926 Harry MacElhone printed a version with calvados, gin, grenadine and absinthe, without lemon. The familiar formula of gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne in a tall glass was first given by Judge Jr. in the 1927 book “Here’s How”. A cognac version was first described by David Embury in 1948.

Serving. Gin, juice and syrup are shaken with ice, strained into a chilled flute and topped with Champagne or another dry sparkling wine. According to Difford’s Guide, serving in a flute became established in the late 1980s and 1990s; before that the drink was often served long, on crushed ice.

Why this matters to you. Bubbles and lemon make the taste light, but one serving contains 30 ml of gin and another 60 ml of wine. So this is a full strong cocktail, not a light aperitif. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.