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French 75 Champagne Cocktail

posted by Liz Berg on December 12, 2018 (updated 4/17/23)

Sweet, tart and bubbly, this French 75 Champagne Cocktail is a perfect addition to any celebration. Simple to make, it will set the tone beautifully for cocktail parties, holiday parties, or a special intimate dinner!

A French 75 Drink is easy and elegant with bubbles from sparkling wine plus sweet and herbaceous undertones.

French 75 Champagne Cocktail in a champagne flute.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You’ll Love a French 75

2 Ingredient Notes

3 Expert Tips for a Perfect French 75

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like

6 French 75 Champagne Cocktail

Why You’ll Love a French 75

On Bastille Day, we were treated to an amazing French meal as part of our quarterly dinner club circuit. All the courses were scrumptious, but it was a lovely French 75 cocktail that left a lasting impression.

Simple syrup, lemon juice, and gin work their magic in a cocktail shaker before being topped off with some bubbly and a twist of lemon. Pure bliss.
Then I served this champagne cocktail to my book club friends, many of whom hadn’t heard of this cocktail either. I’m glad I could spread the word!
It’s easy to make and the bubbly makes it celebratory!

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Ice
Gin – Use your favorite gin. We usually have Hendricks or Bombay Saphire on hand.
Fresh Lemon Juice – Don’t use the bottled version on the store shelves. Fresh tastes better.
Simple Syrup – Made with equal parts sugar and water (see how below in the expert tips) or purchase when you purchase your liquor.
Champagne – Use your favorite brand. Cava or Prosecco can be substituted for a less expensive option.
Lemon Slices or Twists -To Serve. It’s always nice to use an ingredient in the cocktail to garnish.

French 75 Champagne Cocktail with a lemon twist in a highball glass.

Expert Tips for a Perfect French 75

As with most cocktails, the procedure is quite simple. But having all the ingredients set and ready to go will make the process of mixing and serving go smoothly.

Make your own simple syrup by heating equal parts sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved. Don’t allow it to boil or your ratio will not be equal when excess water evaporates.
Simple syrup can be made well ahead of time and is perfectly safe to use if refrigerated for up to a month.
You can also purchase a bottle of simple syrup in a liquor store or in the area of the grocery store where you’d find alcohol.
Fresh lemon juice can be squeezed early in the day and stored in the refrigerator. I like to (affiliate link) strain the lemon juice to remove any teeny seeds.
PRO-Tip: Never use bottled lemon juice in your French 75 as the flavor of fresh is far superior.
Using a (affiliate link) cocktail shaker helps chill and combine the ingredients. Top with champagne and garnish before serving.
For an added bit of glitz, dip the rim of your glass in some lemon juice, then into a shallow bowl of sugar.
PRO-Tip: Did you know experts recommend shaking your cocktail shaker a full 30 seconds for the best results? 30 seconds will feel like an eternity, but give it a try!
You can easily substitute some less expensive Cava or Prosecco for the Champagne.

French 75 Champagne Cocktail garnished with a slice of lemon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does a French 75 Taste Like?

A French 75 cocktail has herbaceous undertones from the gin, sweetness from the simple syrup, plus a pucker of citrus from the lemon juice. You’ll also have the bubbly experience with every sip due to the champagne.

What is the Origin of the Name, French 75?

One thought was that the mix of gin and champagne packed a powerful punch, like the French 75 mm field gun used by the Allies in WWI. The first written account of the recipe came after the war in Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails, published in 1922. Except the ingredients didn’t jibe with today’s version, containing no champagne with additions such as Calvados and absinthe instead. So there’s no definitive answer.

No matter where or how the name came to be, this is one tasty champagne cocktail! I hope you’ll give this refreshing sparkler a try. Cheers!