Elegant champagne cocktail with bubbles in sophisticated celebration setting

Ordinary Drink

French 75

El French 75 es un cóctel clásico y elegante que combina ginebra, jugo de limón fresco, azúcar y champán. Su nombre proviene del cañón francés de 75 mm utilizado durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, simbolizando su potencia y sofisticación. Servido en una copa de flauta, es perfecto para celebraciones y ocasiones especiales.

  • cítrico
  • espumoso
  • refrescante
  • aromático
Elena
By ElenaClassic Cocktails & Gin ExpertPublished Reviewed
Prep Time
5 min
Glass
Collins glass
Difficulty
Easy
ABV
14%
Yields
1 serving
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El French 75 es un ordinary drink a base de gin, reconocido por su carácter cítrico and espumoso — uno de los "celebraciones" más buscados. Con solo 5 minutos de preparación, es ideal para fiestas de verano y fácil de preparar en casa. Si buscas "cenas elegantes", esta es tu receta.

Key Takeaways

What you’ll learn

  • The French 75 was named after the powerful WWI-era 75mm field gun for its reputedly fierce kick.
  • Both gin and cognac versions are historically valid; gin is the most popular modern interpretation while cognac is the French original.
  • Proper technique requires shaking the base ingredients with ice before topping with champagne — never shake the sparkling wine itself.
  • Always use brut champagne or quality sparkling wine to balance the simple syrup's sweetness.

Ingredients

Serves
1 serving
Glass
Collins glass
Prep
5 min
  • 1 1/2 ozGin
  • 2 tsp superfineSugar
  • 1 1/2 ozLemon juice
  • 4 oz ChilledChampagne
  • 1Orange
  • 1Maraschino cherry

Method

Preparation

  1. 01

    Combina ginebra, azúcar y jugo de limón en una coctelera llena de hielo. Agita vigorosamente y cuela en una copa de champán fría. Completa con champán. Revuelve suavemente.

Origin

History & Origins

The French 75's origin story is as debated as the recipe itself. Most cocktail historians credit Harry MacElhone, the Scottish bartender who founded Harry's New York Bar in Paris, with creating the drink around 1925. Some accounts trace it back to the interwar period in London, while others suggest a WWI-era provenance — French and American soldiers in France were supposedly mixing gin with champagne as early as 1915.

What is certain is that the cocktail's name invokes the Canon de 75 modèle 1897, the rapid-fire French field gun that became the signature artillery piece of World War I. Early drinkers claimed the cocktail had such a kick that it felt like being hit by the cannon's shell — a claim that speaks more to its deceptive drinkability than any literal comparison. The drink appeared in "The Savoy Cocktail Book" in 1930 with a gin base, cementing its place in the classic canon.

Early drinkers claimed the cocktail had such a kick that it felt like being hit by the cannon's shell — a claim that speaks more to its deceptive drinkability than any literal comparison.

The gin-versus-cognac debate persists to this day. French sources from the same era often specified cognac, suggesting the cognac version may be the authentic Parisian recipe while the gin variant was popularised in English-speaking countries. Today the IBA lists the French 75 as an official cocktail with gin as the canonical spirit. Some bartenders serve the cognac version as "French 75 Moderne." Both versions are historically valid, and choosing between them is an exercise in personal preference and cocktail philosophy.

Bartender’s Insight

Pro Tips

Enfría todos los ingredientes y la cristalería completamente antes de la preparación para una temperatura de servicio óptima

From Elena

  • usa ginebra London Dry para mantener el equilibrio botánico sin abrumar el champagne

  • agrega champagne al final para preservar la efervescencia y crear atractivo visual

  • remueve en lugar de agitar para mantener la claridad

At the Table

Perfect Pairings

Soufflé de queso
Salmón ahumado
Ostras al horno
Tartas de limón

Beyond the Classic

Variations

French 75 75

Utiliza 75ml de cada componente (ginebra, champagne, zumo de limón, almíbar) para proporción perfecta y presentación potente

Champagne 75

Incorpora copas enjuagadas con absenta para un trasfondo herbáceo

French 75 Moderno

Añade un toque de amargos Peychaud's para especias sutiles y complejidad

Questions

Frequently Asked

French 75 Recipe — Authentic Gin Cocktail | Hero Cocktails | Hero Cocktails