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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