French 75
An elegant sparkling classic combining gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne. Crisp and refreshing with bright citrus, botanical gin character and fine, lively bubbles.
French 75 Recipe
- Gin 30 ml
- Champagne 60 ml
- Lemon juice 15 ml
- Cane sugar syrup 10 ml
- Fresh lemon 1 twist, optional
- Ice 150 g, optional
Make it properly
- Add gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a shaker.
- Fill with ice and shake well until chilled.
- Strain into a Champagne flute and top with chilled Champagne.
- Garnish with a fresh lemon twist
WHAT MAKES A GOOD FRENCH 75?
A good French 75 is crisp, elegant and well balanced. Gin provides the botanical base, lemon brings fresh acidity and sugar syrup softens the citrus, while Champagne adds fine bubbles, freshness and complexity.
The gin, lemon and sugar should be shaken first, then topped with Champagne after straining. This keeps the sparkling wine lively and creates a refreshing cocktail where neither the citrus nor sweetness overwhelms the Champagne.
Your recipe, ready to save.
Download a compact recipe card and use the QR code to return to the live builder whenever you need to scale the quantities.
FRENCH 75: RECIPE, INGREDIENTS & TIPS
A practical guide to making a classic French 75, from choosing the right gin and Champagne to balancing fresh lemon, sweetness and fine sparkling bubbles.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A FRENCH 75
A good French 75 starts with a dry, botanical gin that remains noticeable alongside lemon and sparkling wine. Fresh lemon provides acidity, while a small amount of sugar syrup balances the citrus without making the cocktail overly sweet.
For Drinkero's classic version, we recommend Tanqueray London Dry Gin with Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Champagne. The gin provides crisp juniper character, while the Brut Champagne brings freshness, acidity and fine bubbles.
Complete the cocktail with lemon juice and MONIN Pure Cane Sugar Syrup.
CHAMPAGNE OR PROSECCO?
A classic French 75 is traditionally made with Champagne, which gives the cocktail its crisp acidity, fine bubbles and elegant dry character.
A good dry Prosecco also works well as an alternative. It generally creates a softer, fruitier version of the drink while retaining the refreshing sparkling character.
For the classic serve, Drinkero recommends Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut Champagne. For a more accessible alternative, Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut DOC works well.
HOW TO BALANCE A FRENCH 75
The French 75 needs enough lemon to stay bright without overpowering the gin and Champagne. Sugar should soften the acidity rather than make the drink noticeably sweet.
Our ratio of 30 ml gin, 15 ml lemon juice, 10 ml sugar syrup and 60 ml Champagne creates a crisp, refreshing cocktail with balanced citrus and plenty of sparkling character.
ORIGINS OF THE FRENCH 75
The French 75 emerged during the early 20th century and became associated with Paris and the First World War era. Its name refers to the French 75 mm field gun, suggesting that the cocktail delivered a surprisingly powerful effect despite its elegant appearance.
An early form of the drink appeared as the 75 Cocktail, while the combination evolved over time into the familiar mixture of gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne.
The French 75 went on to become one of the best-known Champagne cocktails and remains a classic sparkling serve today.
TECHNIQUE: SHAKE, STRAIN & TOP
Unlike a Spritz, the French 75 is not built entirely in the serving glass. Gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup should first be shaken with plenty of ice to chill, dilute and combine them properly.
Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute, then gently top with well-chilled Champagne. Do not shake the Champagne, as this would destroy its carbonation and create unnecessary pressure in the shaker.
Finish with a fresh lemon twist, expressing the citrus oils over the surface before garnishing.
HOW TO SERVE A FRENCH 75
Serve the French 75 in a Champagne flute to help preserve its carbonation and showcase the sparkling character of the drink.
The Champagne should be thoroughly chilled before pouring. Finish with a thin lemon twist and serve immediately while the cocktail is cold and lively.
Questions about the French 75
Is the French 75 an official IBA cocktail?
Yes. The French 75 is included in the International Bartenders Association’s official cocktail list as a Contemporary Classic. See the IBA’s official French 75 recipe for the classic specification.
What is a French 75 made with?
A classic French 75 combines gin, lemon juice, sugar and Champagne.
What Champagne is best for a French 75?
A dry Brut Champagne works particularly well. Drinkero recommends Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut for the classic version.
Can I use Prosecco instead of Champagne in a French 75?
Yes. Champagne is the traditional choice, but a dry Prosecco also works well and creates a slightly softer, fruitier version. Drinkero recommends Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut DOC as an alternative.
What gin is best for a French 75?
A classic London Dry Gin provides enough botanical character to remain noticeable alongside lemon and Champagne. Drinkero recommends Tanqueray London Dry Gin.
How much gin is in a French 75?
Our recipe uses 30 ml of gin per cocktail.
Can I make French 75s for a group?
Yes. Choose 6, 12, 24 or 48 cocktails in the Drinkero Cocktail Kit Builder and the required ingredient quantities are calculated for you.