French 75 Cocktail

The French 75 is a classic cocktail that combines the sweet, bitter and tart flavors of Gin and lemon juice with the subtle complexity of champagne. The result is a refreshing drink with a crisp finish that leaves you satisfied. If you are looking to class up your Christmas Party or Wedding Reception, look no further than the sophisticated and bubbly French 75 cocktail. The French 75 is also wonderful to serve on New Years Eve!

Do I have to Use Champagne in a French 75?

The traditional recipe for a French 75 Cocktail calls for Champagne. Champagne is expensive, but it will also add some rich flavours of apple, bread, nut and toast to the cocktail.

If I were making a French 75 at home, or a small gathering, I’d use Champagne (if I had the budget for it). If I were making this drink for a large Christmas or NY Eve party, I’d use Prosecco. Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that is of good quality, but way less expensive than Champagne. At large events, it’s important to keep your costs down. Plus, at large gatherings, everyone is too busy talking to notice the subtle nuances that Champagne brings to the cocktail.

Whatever style of sparkling wine you use, go for a Brut or Medium Dry. If you use a very dry sparkling wine, the lemon juice will become overpowering. Sweet sparkling wine might make the drink taste too sickly for many.

Bulk French 75 Ingredients

If you are making the French 75 in Bulk for a large banquet, here are the ingredients you’ll need per 1 bottle of Champagne to make eight cocktails. Put all the ingredients, except the champagne, in a pitcher with some ice. When ready to serve, pour into a Champagne Flute and top with Champagne.

• 1.5 Cups of Gin
• .75 Cups of Lemon Juice
• .5 Cups of Simple Syrup
• 1 Bottle of Champagne

French 75 Variations

There are countless variations for the French 75 Cocktail. In fact, I’m surprised there isn’t one called the French Infinity. Below are a few of the popular French 75 variations.

• Sloe 75 – Swap out Gin for Sloe Gin, and Lemon Juice for Lime Juice
• French 76 – Substitute Vodka for Gin (Use Grey Goose to keep it Frenchy)
• Elderflower Rosé 75 – Swaps out Gin for St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and Champagne for a Sparkling Rosé
• French 95 – Swap out Gin for Bourbon, plus add a splash of OJ to the Lemon Juice
• French 125 – Use Cognac instead of Gin (makes it even more Frenchier)

Is Gin or Cognac used for a French 75 Cocktail?

If you prefer a drier cocktail, use Gin. If you want your French 75 to taste sweeter, use Cognac, or Brandy. Like everything on the internet, people love to argue, especially about Cocktail ingredients. I prefer drier cocktails, so I use Gin for my French 75 recipe.