French 75
Champagne makes things a little special. I’m not a big fan of drinking for the sole purpose of getting drunk — that’s why we drank in college, we’ve progressed people (Unless you’re still in college, then have a double on me!). When you want to elevate your drinking — it should be an event — but don’t want just champagne, turn to the wonderful world of champagne cocktails. A serious one to consider? The French 75.
The French 75 is a cocktail for lovers of gin and champagne. Luckily, I’m a fan of both.
With this champagne cocktail, you’re going to get those floral, juniper-y notes from the gin, complimented by lemon juice (gin and citrus really are best buds), then finished with the effervescence of champagne.
Think of it as a spectacular gin and tonic.
What you’re going to want to avoid is watering the French 75 down by removing some of the gin. Yes, I know that technically you’re not watering a drink down by removing one booze (gin) and upping the content of another (champagne), but that’s not the point. The point is that this is about gin and champagne.
If you’re looking for a cocktail with just champagne and citrus, then go drink a Mimosa. Or better yet, go drink a Bloody Mary. You don’t deserve any champagne right now.
For the rest of us, onto the French 75!
- 2 oz. gin
- ½ oz. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. ultrafine sugar
- 5 oz. champagne
- Lemon peel
- Glass type: Champagne
- Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar into your cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake like you mean it (you want to chill it and dissolve that sugar, that's why we went ultrafine).
- Evenly pour into two champagne flutes.
- Top with chilled champagne.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
- Smile, drink and toast to good health.
