The perfect celebratory drink to ring in the new year: the French 75. Made with only 4 ingredients, lemon, gin, simple syrup and champagne. It is simple to make and elegant to drink. This is the perfect balance of floral gin and citrus. Warning: like it’s name sake, it is hard hitting.
Named after a World War I 75 millimeter gun which was the mainstay of the French artillery, the gun was described as “…light, potent with a vicious rate of fire.” The French 75 is said to be the favorite drink of the Lost Generation.
If you make it with cognac or brandy it becomes the King’s Peg.
French 75
1 drink
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz dry gin (3T)
1⁄2 oz. simple syrup (1T)
1⁄2 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
Champagne or a sparkling white wine
Ice
Lemon twist, to garnish
Utensils:
champagne flute or tom collins glass (chilled), small sauce pan, a cocktail shaker or large glass with a lid, jigger (a small measuring cup for drinks) or measuring spoons, measuring cup
Method:
Put the gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and ice in the cocktail shaker or large glass with a lid. Cover and shake for 20 seconds. Strain the liquid into your chilled champagne flute and top off with Champagne. Add the twist of lemon for garnish.
Simple syrup:
1c white sugar
1c water
Put the water and sugar in a saucepan on a medium heat. When the sugar melts, bring the pot to a boil for 3 minutes. Cool.
Happy New Year!
