French 75 Recipe

Gin: A clear, distilled spirit with predominant flavors of juniper berries and other botanicals.

Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed juice from lemons, providing a bright and tangy flavor.

Simple syrup: A mixture of sugar and water, used to add sweetness to the cocktail.

Champagne: A sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, adding effervescence and a touch of elegance.

Lemon peel: A twist of lemon peel used as a garnish, adding a hint of citrus aroma.

When preparing a French 75, ensure your gin is well-chilled before mixing. This helps maintain the cocktail's refreshing quality. Additionally, use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. When shaking the ingredients, do so vigorously to properly mix and chill them. Strain carefully to avoid ice shards in your champagne flute. Finally, pour the champagne slowly to preserve its bubbles, and twist the lemon peel over the drink to release its essential oils before garnishing.

• gin - Substitute with vodka: Vodka has a neutral flavor that can mimic the base spirit without the botanical notes of gin.

• freshly squeezed lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice provides a similar acidity and citrus flavor, though it will slightly alter the taste profile.

• simple syrup - Substitute with honey syrup: Honey syrup (honey mixed with water) offers a natural sweetness and a slightly different flavor profile.

• champagne - Substitute with prosecco: Prosecco is a sparkling wine that can provide similar effervescence and dryness.

• lemon peel - Substitute with orange peel: Orange peel can offer a similar aromatic garnish with a slightly sweeter citrus note.

• To keep your French 75 fresh, store the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This will preserve the flavors for up to 24 hours.
• If you want to prepare the lemon juice in advance, squeeze fresh lemons and store the juice in a small, airtight container. Freshly squeezed lemon juice can last up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
• Simple syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a month. Simply combine equal parts sugar and water, heat until dissolved, and let it cool before storing.
• For a quick assembly, pre-measure the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a small bottle or jar. When you're ready to serve, just shake with ice and top with champagne.
• If you have leftover champagne, use a champagne stopper to keep it bubbly. Store it in the refrigerator and consume within 1-2 days for the best fizz.
• Avoid freezing the French 75 as the champagne will lose its effervescence and the lemon juice may become bitter. Instead, focus on refrigerating the components separately and assembling the cocktail fresh when needed.

• Pour the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup mixture into a small saucepan.
• Gently warm the mixture over low heat, ensuring it doesn't boil, just until it's slightly warm to the touch.
• Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature.
• Pour the mixture into a champagne flute.
• Top with chilled champagne.
• Garnish with a fresh lemon twist.

• Cocktail shaker: Used to mix the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup with ice to chill and blend the ingredients.

• Jigger: A measuring tool to ensure precise amounts of gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup are used.

• Ice: Essential for chilling the cocktail mixture in the shaker.

• Strainer: Helps to strain the mixed cocktail into the champagne flute, leaving the ice behind.

• Champagne flute: The glass used to serve the French 75, allowing the champagne to retain its bubbles.

• Lemon zester: Used to create a twist of lemon peel for garnishing the cocktail.

• Bar spoon: Handy for gently stirring the champagne into the cocktail if needed.

Pre-make simple syrup: Prepare a batch of simple syrup in advance and store it in the fridge. This saves time when making multiple French 75 cocktails.

Use fresh lemon juice: Squeeze lemon juice ahead of time and keep it in a sealed container. Fresh juice enhances the flavor and speeds up the process.

Chill your champagne: Ensure your champagne is well-chilled before starting. This eliminates the need to wait for it to cool down.

Pre-cut lemon twists: Prepare your lemon peel twists in advance and store them in the fridge. This makes garnishing quick and easy.