FRENCH 75
The French 75: The WWI Cocktail Named After a Field Gun
The French 75 was created around 1915, though its exact origin is disputed. Some credit Harry MacElhone at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, while others point to the Stork Club in London. The drink was named after the French 75mm field gun, a rapid-fire artillery piece used extensively by French forces during World War I. The comparison referenced the cocktail's powerful effect.
The original recipe used gin as the base spirit, though cognac versions became popular in France and are sometimes called the French 75 as well. The gin version remains the most widely recognized internationally and is the standard recipe in most cocktail books.
What makes the French 75 special is the combination of a traditional sour base topped with champagne. The gin, lemon juice, and sugar create a Tom Collins-style foundation, but the champagne replaces soda water, adding elegance and celebration to what would otherwise be a simple gin sour. The bubbles make it festive while the lemon keeps it refreshing.
The drink became associated with celebration and victory, making it popular for toasts and special occasions. By the 1920s and 1930s, it had become a standard cocktail in bars across Europe and America. The champagne elevates it beyond everyday drinking into something for marking moments.
RECIPE:
1½ oz gin
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
2-3 oz champagne or sparkling wine
Lemon twist for garnish
Method:
Add gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup to shaker with ice
Shake well until chilled
Strain into champagne flute
Top with champagne
Garnish with lemon twist