Elegant champagne cocktail with bubbles in sophisticated celebration setting

Ordinary Drink

French 75

Le French 75 est un cocktail élégant et pétillant, alliant le gin, le jus de citron frais, le sucre et le champagne. Servi dans une flûte, il offre une expérience rafraîchissante et sophistiquée, parfaite pour les célébrations. Son nom rend hommage à un obus de la Première Guerre mondiale, symbolisant à la fois sa puissance et son raffinement.

  • citrus
  • pétillant
  • floral
  • rafraîchissant
Elena
By ElenaClassic Cocktails & Gin ExpertPublished Reviewed
Prep Time
5 min
Glass
Collins glass
Difficulty
Easy
ABV
14%
Yields
1 serving
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Le French 75 est un ordinary drink à base de gin, reconnu pour ses notes citrus and pétillant — parmi les "célébration" les plus recherchés. Prêt en seulement 5 minutes, idéal pour réveillons et simple à réaliser chez soi. Si vous cherchez "anniversaire", cette recette est pour vous.

Key Takeaways

What you’ll learn

  • The French 75 was named after the powerful WWI-era 75mm field gun for its reputedly fierce kick.
  • Both gin and cognac versions are historically valid; gin is the most popular modern interpretation while cognac is the French original.
  • Proper technique requires shaking the base ingredients with ice before topping with champagne — never shake the sparkling wine itself.
  • Always use brut champagne or quality sparkling wine to balance the simple syrup's sweetness.

Ingredients

Serves
1 serving
Glass
Collins glass
Prep
5 min
  • 1 1/2 ozGin
  • 2 tsp superfineSugar
  • 1 1/2 ozLemon juice
  • 4 oz ChilledChampagne
  • 1Orange
  • 1Maraschino cherry

Method

Preparation

  1. 01

    Combinez le gin, le sucre et le jus de citron dans un shaker à cocktail rempli de glace. Secouez vigoureusement et filtrez dans une flûte à champagne refroidie. Complétez avec du champagne. Remuez doucement.

Origin

History & Origins

The French 75's origin story is as debated as the recipe itself. Most cocktail historians credit Harry MacElhone, the Scottish bartender who founded Harry's New York Bar in Paris, with creating the drink around 1925. Some accounts trace it back to the interwar period in London, while others suggest a WWI-era provenance — French and American soldiers in France were supposedly mixing gin with champagne as early as 1915.

What is certain is that the cocktail's name invokes the Canon de 75 modèle 1897, the rapid-fire French field gun that became the signature artillery piece of World War I. Early drinkers claimed the cocktail had such a kick that it felt like being hit by the cannon's shell — a claim that speaks more to its deceptive drinkability than any literal comparison. The drink appeared in "The Savoy Cocktail Book" in 1930 with a gin base, cementing its place in the classic canon.

Early drinkers claimed the cocktail had such a kick that it felt like being hit by the cannon's shell — a claim that speaks more to its deceptive drinkability than any literal comparison.

The gin-versus-cognac debate persists to this day. French sources from the same era often specified cognac, suggesting the cognac version may be the authentic Parisian recipe while the gin variant was popularised in English-speaking countries. Today the IBA lists the French 75 as an official cocktail with gin as the canonical spirit. Some bartenders serve the cognac version as "French 75 Moderne." Both versions are historically valid, and choosing between them is an exercise in personal preference and cocktail philosophy.

Bartender’s Insight

Pro Tips

Refroidissez tous les ingrédients et la verrerie complètement avant la préparation pour une température de service optimale

From Elena

  • utilisez du gin London Dry pour maintenir l'équilibre botanique sans surcharger le champagne

  • ajoutez le champagne en dernier pour préserver l'effervescence et créer un attrait visuel

  • mélangez plutôt que de secouer pour maintenir la clarté

At the Table

Perfect Pairings

Soufflé au fromage
Saumon fumé
Huîtres cuites au four
Tartes au citron

Beyond the Classic

Variations

French 75 75

Utilise 75 ml de chaque composant (gin, champagne, jus de citron, sirop) pour une proportion parfaite et une présentation puissante

Champagne 75

Incorpore un verre à champagne rincé à l'absinthe pour une note herbacée

French 75 Moderne

Ajoute une touche de bitter Peychaud's pour les épices subtiles et la complexité

Questions

Frequently Asked

French 75 Recipe — Authentic Gin Cocktail | Hero Cocktails | Hero Cocktails