• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sidewalk Shoes
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Food Recipes Index
    • Cocktails Recipes Index
    • All Recipes
  • Lifestyle
    • Gardening
    • Travels
      • North Carolina
      • Oregon
      • Tennessee
  • Cats
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Food
  • Cocktails
  • Collections
  • Travels
  • Cats
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Cocktails » Sparkling Wine

    Fun Sparkling French 75 Cocktail

    LAST UPDATED: February 3, 2020 PUBLISHED: February 3, 2020 By Pam Greer 15 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    The French 75 Cocktail is an easy light classic cocktail!  A champagne cocktail that is perfect for celebrations or any time you want a fun sparkling cocktail.   

    Two glasses filled with a light yellow cocktail and a champagne cork in front of them.

     

    Champagne Cocktails

    I love champagne.  I love it's crisp, bright flavor.  It's fun bubbles.  But even more than champagne, I love champagne cocktails.

    Last year for New Year's Eve, instead of drinking plain champagne we had Grapefruit Mimosas, and we loved them.  So, this year, we tried a French 75 and love it too!  

    An alternative to champagne is Prosecco an Italian sparkling wine.  I tend to use them interchangeably, but I'm sure some cocktail purists would not agree with me! 

    Gin, champagne, lemon and simple syrup.

     

    Ingredients in a French 75 Cocktail

    • Gin - We used a London Dry Gin. 
    • Champagne - pick your favorite.
    • Lemon juice - fresh squeezed.  Preferably organic because you'll be using a twist of the peel for garnish.
    • Simple syrup - equal parts water and sugar heated until the sugar dissolves.  Will keep in the fridge for about a month. 

    Photo collage showing gin and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker.

    How to Make this Sparkling Cocktail

    Pour 1 ounce of gin into a cocktail shaker. 

    Add ½ ounce of fresh lemon juice to the shaker. 

    Photo collage showing simple syrup being added to cocktail shaker and cocktail in glass.

    Add ½ ounce of simple syrup to the cocktail shaker. 

    Add ice to cocktail shaker and shake for 30 seconds, then strain into cocktail glass.  A tall flute glass is recommended so you can see the bubbles! 

    Collage showing champagne being added to French 75 cocktail and finished cocktail.

    Top with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist!

    The French 75 cocktail was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris, by Harry MacElhone.  The bar was later renamed Harry's New York Bar.  The name of the cocktail comes from the idea that it has such a kick to it that it felt like being shelled by a French 75mm field gun!

    Two cocktail glasses filled with a light yellow cocktail and popped champagne cork in front.

    Yes, it's potent, but it goes down so easy!  It's also so easy to make!   It's one of our favorite cocktails.  

    It's great for New Year's Eve, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, brunch or any time you want a sparkling cocktail. 

     

    French 75 Cocktail Variations

    The two most common variations of the French 75 Cocktail are the French 76 Cocktail and the French 77 Cocktail. 

    The French 76 Cocktail replace the gin in the French 75 with vodka.  It lets the flavor from the sparkling wine shine through a bit more. 

    The French 77 Cocktail uses elderflower liqueur in place of the gin.  This is my favorite variation, softly floral, really elegant. 

     

    Two flute glasses with yellow cocktail and lemon twist with a blue cocktail shaker.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 15 votes

    French 75 Cocktail

    The French 75 Cocktail is a classic champagne cocktail.  With only 4 ingredients, it's easy and delicious! 
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine French
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 5 minutes
    Servings 1
    Calories 162kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 ounce gin
    • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
    • ½ ounce simple syrup
    • 4 ounces champagne
    • lemon peel for garnish

    Instructions

    • Fill a cocktail shaker half way with ice.  
    • Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup to cocktail shaker.  Shake for about 15 seconds. 
    • Strain into a flute glass and top with the champagne. 
    • Run the lemon peel around the edge of the glass and then drop into the cocktail. 

    Notes

    Lemon Juice - always use fresh squeezed. 
    Sparkling wine - while champagne is traditional, feel free to try your favorite sparkling varieties! 

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 99mg | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin C: 5.5mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

    This was originally published in January 2019 and has been updated for 2020.

     

    More Sparkling Wine Cocktails

    • Two dark brown cocktails garnished with a cherry sitting on a mirrored surface.
      Summer Manhattan Cocktail
    • Two glasses filled with a bright orange cocktail.
      Aperol Spritz Cocktail
    • Collage of cocktails with text reading 36 3 ingredient cocktails
      27 EASY 3 Ingredient Cocktail Recipes
    • Photo collage with 20 pretty pink cocktails text.
      20 Pretty Pink Cocktails!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy Liu Dong says

      January 28, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      That cocktail looks really delicious, a perfect drink to make for Valentine's Day!

      Reply
    2. Audrey says

      January 27, 2022 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      This was a huge hit with my friends, everyone loved this drink.

      Reply
    3. Jerika says

      January 27, 2022 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      I love classic cocktails!:) I'm so excited to try this French 75 Cocktail.:) Thanks!

      Reply
    4. TillyEats says

      January 06, 2019 at 11:01 pm

      5 stars
      So refreshing and not overly sweet like some cocktails, perfect on a hot day!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 07, 2019 at 8:45 am

        It's really refreshing!

        Reply
    5. Colleen says

      January 06, 2019 at 10:05 pm

      5 stars
      Such a delightful and refreshing cocktail. I can't wait to try this.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 07, 2019 at 8:45 am

        You'll have to let me know what you think!

        Reply
    6. Mindy says

      January 06, 2019 at 9:41 pm

      5 stars
      Im a fan of any drink that has champagne in it and this looks amazing!!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 07, 2019 at 8:45 am

        Me too!

        Reply
    7. Caroline says

      January 06, 2019 at 5:36 pm

      5 stars
      I only came across the French 75 relatively recently which is strange since it's one of the old classic cocktails. But it's one I keep meaning to try as I love all the components. Looks great, so elegant!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 06, 2019 at 6:51 pm

        It is elegant and I love how easy it is!

        Reply
    8. Cathy says

      January 06, 2019 at 5:23 pm

      5 stars
      This cocktail sounds delicious and refreshing! Also enjoyed this informative post about a 1915 cocktail! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 06, 2019 at 6:52 pm

        It is so refreshing and delicious!

        Reply
    9. Ann says

      January 04, 2019 at 3:08 am

      Now that's a cocktail I fancy making and hopefully I can find a ginger flavoured gin locally.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 04, 2019 at 7:50 am

        Any flavored gin would probably be good!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

    Hi, I'm Pam. I'm the person who plans whole vacations around where to eat and drink. Beautiful scenery is optional.

    More about me →

    Featured in:

    Collage of website titles

    Click here to subscribe to my newsletter.

    Slow Cooker Recipes!

    • Two red bowls of sweet potato chili.
      Slow Cooker Beef and Sweet Potato Chili
    • Bowl of beans topped with cheese and jalapeño peppers.
      Slow Cooker Pinto Beans with Beef and Bacon
    • Two bowls of lasagna.
      Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Plate with chicken enchilada casserole.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    See more More Slow Cooker Recipes →

    Instant Pot Recipes

    • Bowl of pineapple rice garnished with cilantro.
      Instant Pot Pineapple Rice
    • Bowl of pork noodle soup topped with radishes and green onions.
      Instant Pot Asian Pork Noodle Soup
    • Platter of green beans with mushrooms and bacon on a lace tablecloth.
      Instant Pot Green Beans with Bacon and Mushrooms
    • Blue bowl with oatmeal in it.
      Instant Pot Pumpkin Pie Steel Cut Oats

    See more Instant Pot Recipes →

    Sidewalk Shoes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About Me
    • Contact me!

    Copyright © 2023 Sidewalk Shoes