The French 75 Cocktail

A French 75 is a classic Champagne cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, a little simple syrup, and Champagne, named after a French field gun from World War I.

I am an avid reader, so I read a lot of books, particularly ones set in Paris or France. A book that completely captured my heart and soul is Code Name Hélène. (If you haven't read it, drop everything and do it now!).

Besides the brilliant and wildly entertaining story, I was exposed to a new cocktail that I had never heard of before, the French 75. The cocktail was the main character Helene's preferred beverage.

I tell you. You never, ever stop learning. Even a passionate Francophile like me, married to a Frenchman and someone who has lived in France, I had not heard about this classic cocktail!

Now that I know what the French 75 is, it has become part of my regular répertoire at home, and on my next trip to Paris, I will certainly try it there. I am a fan of champagne and often order << un coupe>> or a Kir Royale (champagne and crème de cassis) as a pre-dinner drink in Paris. (You will always be asked whether you want a pre-meal drink in a good French restaurant.) You can't get more classic than a glass of good champagne, and I welcome the French 75 into that family.

If the French 75 drink is new to you, then read on!

History of the French 75 Cocktail + Who Invented It

Who doesn’t love a good cocktail? Cocktail history can be mired in myths and legends. Case in point: the French 75 Cocktail. It is generally described as a refreshing and light champagne martini. This classic lady is a delightful mix of citrus, sugar, gin, and, of course, champagne. As with many alcoholic beverages, the history of the French 75 cocktail is unclear.

When it comes to the naming or invention of the 75, historians appear to be split. Most believe the originator to be a Scot named Harry MacElhone. Harry owned a popular bar in Paris named Harry’s New York Bar. [I knew Harry invented the Bloody Mary [merci for that!] and I have been to the bar in the 2nd arrondissement [5 Rue Daunou], but I still didn't know about the French 75!) Around 1922, he published a work that named the drink the “75”. It was credited to him by several others as well.

Some cocktail historians actually trace the drink even further back, to Henry Tepe of Henry's Bar on Rue Volney in Paris, who may have mixed an early version around 1915, which would make Harry MacElhone the one who made it famous rather than the one who invented it.

Here’s where it gets tricky: MacElhone himself credited the drink to another source. In fact, he claimed the drink was conceptualized in London. This may not be far from the truth, as the records going back to 1867 state that Charles Dickens enjoyed champagne “cups” with those he entertained while visiting a hotel in Boston.

Champagne “cups” themselves are a mix of Champagne, sugar, and citrus. The clincher on this tale? He would ask for Tom Collins Gin along with it. Here you have all of the bare-bones ingredients that make the French 75, just broken into two parts. It could be that it was something Dickens enjoyed back home in England and would share with his guests.

While historians cannot agree on when it was first mixed, the name and recipe first appeared and gained popularity in print in a book called Here's How, published in 1927. For many drinks, when the original mixing is lost to the annals of history, we can rely on the first time it was called its name. With its first printing in a magazine, the name was in circulation in 1927.  

Finally, evidence suggests that yet another bartender in France originally named it the Soixante-Quinze. Whoever the mysterious bartender was who masterminded this delicious beverage may never have known that their simple Champagne-based drink would become a classic.

Why is it called a French 75?

While many drinks get their names from the flavors they impart, or brands in their construction, the French 75 gets its name from neither. It was named after a Howitzer gun used during World War I by both the French and the Americans (Harry's Bar was often frequented by American servicemen).

The gun’s accuracy and speed were hailed as very effective during combat. It was used as an anti-tank and anti-air gun and fired 75-millimeter rounds to take down the enemy. It was named after the gun because of the “kick” many purported the drink possessed. In essence, drinking this cocktail and feeling its effects were similar to the kick of the 75-millimeter gun.

How to Make a French 75

The great thing about this classic is that it is so simple to make! Though this is one of my favorite drinks, if serving at an event, make sure you also have alcohol replacement drinks on hand for those at the party who live a sober lifestyle or are driving.

The hardest part is deciding whether to use gin or cognac. The origin of this disparity lies between MacElhone's and Dickens' reporting. While Dickens called for gin, MacElhone’s recipe actually used cognac.

Many claim that cognac is not only correct for the spirit of the time it was “invented” in, which was the 1920s, but that it imparts a better, richer flavor. However, I have met more people who prefer the gin version. For Mr. Misadventures and me, it is a toss-up.

I like the gin version; he prefers the cognac one. And as with any disparity between recipes, both are widely accepted, and it is really up to the person enjoying the beverage and the bar that serves it. However, if you are making it in your home, it’s up to your tastes. There is no French 75 police!

The Recipe

• 1 ounce gin or cognac
• ½ ounce lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• 3 ounces of champagne

Steps

1. Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker.
2. Shake until chilled
3. Strain into a champagne flute
4. Add additional champagne and top with a lemon twist

How Strong Is a French 75?

Do not let the bubbles fool you. A French 75 is stronger than it tastes, usually landing somewhere around 15 to 18 percent alcohol by volume once it is in the glass. The bright Champagne and citrus hide the gin so well that it goes down like something much gentler, which is exactly why I sip it slowly and happily stop at one or two.

What Champagne Should I Use?

You want a dry Champagne here, so reach for a brut rather than anything sweet, since the lemon and syrup already bring plenty of flavor. A grower Champagne is lovely if you feel like treating yourself, but you don't need to open something expensive. A good Cremant, which is made the same way as Champagne but outside the Champagne region, is my go-to for a weeknight French 75, and a crisp Prosecco will do the job nicely too when you just want the bubbles and the fun.

What Glass Should I Use?

Each drink has its own glass. For the French 75, it is the champagne flute. However, you may see variations in glassware when serving this drink. Some swear by the on-the-rocks mentality and serve it in a tall glass. Others adhere to the fact it’s called a “champagne martini” and serve it in a martini glass.

Ultimately, how you enjoy your drink is your personal choice. It doesn’t matter what you serve it in as long as it brings you joy and entertains your friends and family. If you are a traditionalist, however, always keep champagne flutes at the ready for this drink. It is traditionally served this way. After all, it has champagne in it.

French 75 Variations

As with any classic, people are always changing the base recipe to create new and exciting takes. In my book, I always encourage playing with a recipe, and it can change a beverage from a common summer brunch drink to the perfect holiday sipping beverage. It’s all about finding a drink that you love and can share.

When it comes to the French 75, with so few ingredients and a sort of built-in variation, where can you go from there? Many people play with the drink base and the sweetening agents to adjust the taste to their liking or use different kinds of gin.

Where to Drink a French 75 in Paris

If you would rather have someone make your French 75 for you, Paris is the place to do it, and a couple of spots carry real history with the drink.

Harry's New York Bar

Address: 5 Rue Daunou, 2nd arrondissement

This is the bar most tied to the French 75 story, the place where Harry MacElhone put the drink on the map back in the 1920s. It still pours them today in the same wood-paneled room that has welcomed writers and regulars for over a century, and ordering one here feels like sipping a little piece of cocktail history. It sits in the 2nd arrondissement, one of my favorite corners of the city.

The Hemingway Bar at the Ritz

Address: 15 Place Vendome, 1st arrondissement

Tucked inside the Ritz, the Hemingway Bar is all hushed glamour and serious craft, the kind of place you go when you want your French 75 treated like an occasion. It is a splurge, but the beautiful setting and the quality of the pour make it memorable.

What Is the Perfect Occasion for the French 75?

During the winter, it is cold, so a hot toddy is a go-to. During the summer, you want something light, so a mimosa is perfect. When is the perfect time for a French 75? The answer is simple: anytime. Because of the simplicity of the drink and the variations you can make on it, you can take the cocktail from a summer stand-out to a Christmas crusher with just a change of a base ingredient.

It's also a wonderful cocktail to serve with food. The bright bubbles and citrus cut through rich and salty bites beautifully, so it pairs especially well with oysters, salty nibbles like olives and nuts, and just about anything you would put out at brunch.

French 75 FAQs

The French 75 is a classic in every sense of the word. It is elegantly simple in its construction, and it’s a great way to wow company when visiting or to just enjoy on your own. This brings me back to where I discovered this lovely cocktail, Code Name Hélène.

I think the French 75 was the perfect cocktail for Hélène. While there was nothing simple about her, in fact, she was quite complex. Her fierce nature and flair, the personality traits that were her armor, definitely provided a wow factor that I attribute to French women. I just can't see her drinking anything else!

However you make yours, with gin or with cognac, in a flute or a coupe, the French 75 is one of those drinks that turns an ordinary evening into something that feels a little special, and that is exactly why I keep coming back to it. If you give it a try, I would love to hear which version wins in your house. Leave me a comment, share it with a friend who loves a good bubbly cocktail, and take a look around the blog for more of my favorite French drinks, like the story behind Calvados apple brandy, and plenty more Paris stories.

Sante !

How about you? Have you had a French 75? Did you have it in Paris, or did you make it at home? Have you played around with variations? If you haven't tried it, are you inspired to? Do share!

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