French 75 cocktail

The French 75 is a classic champagne cocktail. You make it with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and champagne, making this cocktail perfect for New Year's Eve.

This fresh champagne cocktail tastes best when made with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Do put it through a strainer to remove the pulp and any seeds.

Because you make this cocktail with champagne, it is perfect for drinking on New Year's Eve serve it with homemade oliebollen and apple beignets for a traditional Dutch party.

Who invented this cocktail?

This vintage cocktail has been around for a while. In fact, the French 75 was invented by Harry MacElhone in a cocktail bar in Paris during World War I in 1915.

The first recipe for this cocktail was printed in a 1927 recipe book and is still one of the most popular champagne cocktails today.

Ingredients you will need for this recipe

Champagne - for a French 75, do not use too sweet champagne. Of course, you can replace it with another sparkling wine such as prosector or cava.

Did you know that many classic cocktails, like mimosa, are made with champagne?

Gin - the best gin for this cocktail is a dry gin such as monkey 47 or damrak gin. You can also substitute gin for vodka to make a French 76!

Sugar syrup - this is an essential ingredient in many cocktails. You can buy the sugar syrup ready-made, but it is also very easy to make the sugar syrup yourself.

Equipment

• Vintage cocktail glasses, for example, a coupe or a champagne glass. You can often find very nice glasses in thrift stores and antique stores!
• Cocktail shaker.
• A citrus juicer and a strainer to remove any seeds or pieces of ice or your cocktail.

Storage

A French 75 cocktail you drink right away, of course. You can make the sugar syrup well in advance, though!

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