French 75
dry gin or brandy, lemon juice, sugar and champagne
A tenaciously popular drink, and the rare classic cocktail to emerge in American during Prohibition. The French 75 is essentially a collins with the sparkling water replaced by Champagne.
The recipe shown, above, is probably the first French 75 recipe in print, from a diminutive Prohibition-era book called “Here’s How”, credited to one Judge Jr. The actual author was probably someone in the publishing industry. The basic recipe:
French 75
Prepare a highball glass filled with ice.
Shake with ice:
- 2 oz dry gin
- 1/2 oz lemon juice
- 2 bar spoons superfine sugar
Strain into the prepared glass.
Fill with chilled champagne.
Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails, p. 299–300; barware icons courtesy of Haus Alpenz