Happy Friday! I’m super excited about this weekend because a couple of my best girlfriends are whisking me away for an overnight birthday celebration at a resort. We have no plans except go to the Spa. Shop. Eat. Drink. Repeat. In anticipation of the fun-filled weekend, I’m sharing the recipe for the delicious French 75 Champagne cocktail. My very first sip of a French 75 occurred when I was a freshman at Penn State University. A few friends and I were exploring College Avenue and we came across a bar called the Adam’s Apple. The bartender (thank you kind sir) recommended the French 75 and it “had me at hello.” This cocktail combines some of my favorite things: gin, lemon juice, sugar and Champagne. Legend has it that this cocktail was created in 1915 in Paris at the New York Bar, later called Harry’s New York Bar. It is a very strong drink, but because the lemon juice and sugar mask the potency of the gin it goes down very quickly. The story goes that it was named after the French 75mm field gun that had a rapid rate of fire and was the bastion of the French field artillery in World War I. Consider yourself warned. I serve it year round because the lemon juice is light and refreshing in the summer and the sparkling wine is festive for any celebration. It has become my signature cocktail that guests have come to expect at any party we throw. Recipe follows:
1 oz. gin
½ oz. simple syrup
½ oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
Champagne or a dry sparkling white wine like Prosecco
Lemon twist, to garnish
Add all the ingredients except the Champagne to a cocktail shaker and fill with cracked ice. Shake well and strain into Champagne coupes. Top with the Champagne or Prosecco and garnish with a lemon twist.
Have a great weekend!
xo,
Sarah
