Since St. Patrick’s day has the reputation of a big drinking holiday I thought I would share my favorite cocktail of all time- the French 75. It’s not very Irish but it’s my jam!
If you like bubbles and tart drinks this will be your jam too. It’s a mixture of Gin and sparkling wine or champagne and lemon juice and a little bit of sugar. {I provide the recipe at the end of the post if you would like to give it a go}.
I am very lucky because Mr. Masterpiece mixes a mean drink and he makes me French 75s better than most bartenders. I quickly learned that not all French 75s are created equal and Mr. M has mastered the art of the French 75. Most of my friends enjoy them when they come over as well.
The origin of the drink seems to be a bit fuzzy but it appears to have hit the scene in the 1920s {yes during prohibition}. Although there was a drink known as a Champagne cup in the 19th century that contained champagne, lemon and sugar, which sometimes was also topped off with gin, yielding a cocktail very similar to the French 75. It’s the precursor I guess. The French 75 as we know it originated at the New York bar in Paris.
I discovered the drink on a trip to Disneyland, of all places. After a long, hot day of running around the parks, having fun, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel. If you have not been, I highly recommend it. Anyway, I always make a reservation there on our trips to Disneyland since Mr M. likes his steak, and while we were waiting for our table we ordered cocktails. I ordered their version of the French 75 {which was unknown to me at the time}; I can’t remember what they coined it, the Steakhouse 75 maybe? {I noticed it’s no longer on their menu when I was getting ready for this post}. Anyway, it had me at the first sip.
Between the crispness of the lemon and the fizzy bubbles of the sparkling wine I was complete! I love champagne and or sparkling wine. I also love anything tart, not being partial to sweet drinks. It was the perfect elixir after running around like crazy with my kids all day enjoying the magic of Disney. And that’s what Disney does so well, catering to everyone’s happiness, no matter what age. This became extremely evident when we took the Disney cruise years ago and they catered to my little, almost tween, and us parents. There’s so much I can say about this, so I will leave it there.
Since the alcohol in the French 75 is 1/2 gin and 1/2 bubbles it is sometimes served in a champagne flute and sometimes in a martini glass. I have had it both ways and my preference is a martini glass and I’ve learned to order it that way when I am out since every bartender does it a certain way. I just like how the drink opens up in a martini glass so that is my preference. The funny thing is that Steakhouse 55 presented it to me in a martini glass, but most bartenders seem to prefer to serve it in a champagne flute and that’s why I learned to specify.
If you would like to try this at home the recipe is below. It’s a sneaky drink that seems easy to drink but don’t be fooled since it is potent. It was named after a gun that was used during WWI for a reason.
RECIPE:
Jigger of Gin {average 1.5 oz}
1 tsp. Sugar
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Champagne
Fill a shaker with 3 ice cubes, the gin, lemon juice and sugar.
Shake it violently {my husband’s words} until ice is crystalized.
Fill half the glass with gin mixture and top off with champagne or sparkling wine.
Garnish with lemon peel.
Cheers! Salud! Santé!
This is my happy drink and I am lucky Mr. Masterpiece makes the best one around! His drink of choice is vodka on the rocks with either a garnish of olives, onions or both depending on mood and a splash of the juice of garnish to make it a bit “dirty”.
I love that we have our own lemon tree that enables my French 75 addiction 🤩🍋🍸!
I can’t wait to enjoy these again outside in our front yard while we continue our front yard remodel.
“Drink what makes you happy with friends who make you laugh.”
~author unknown~
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I am not much of a drinker, but the French 75 is one drink I will enjoy on a special occasion. It tastes wonderful and looks so special, too, doesn’t it?
Hi Chloe! It’s all about quality and not quantity so you picked one of the best to indulge! 💛. Thanks for stopping by! XO_ MJ
I’m not much of a gin drinker but this looks pretty darned good. I will have to try it! Thank you for sharing.
Kim | Shiplap and Shells
Hi Kim. I wasn’t partial to gin either but the French 75 has totally converted me. LOL. Thanks for stopping by! XO- Mj
Oh my gosh I would kill for that lemon tree! Cool story about the origin of the drink. Sounds yummy. Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm. xo Kathleen
Thanks Kathleen. Yup! Disney is the happiest place on earth. 🙂 MJ