French 75 Recipe: How to Make a Classic Gin and Champagne Cocktail at Home

What Is a French 75?

A French 75 is a classic sparkling cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Champagne. It is usually served in a Champagne flute or coupe glass.

The drink has a debated history, but it is widely linked to early 20th-century cocktail culture. Cocktail writer Jeffrey Morgenthaler notes that Harry MacElhone published a drink called French 75 in 1919, described as a Tom Collins-style drink with Champagne replacing soda water. Read more about the French 75 history.

A good French 75 should taste:

• Cold and sparkling
• Citrusy from fresh lemon juice
• Lightly sweet, not syrupy
• Botanical from gin
• Elegant and refreshing from Champagne

French 75 Recipe

This recipe makes one serving.

Ingredients

• 30ml gin
• 15ml fresh lemon juice
• 15ml sugar syrup
• 60ml chilled Champagne
• Ice cubes
• Optional: lemon twist for garnish

Method

1. Chill your Champagne flute or coupe glass.
2. Add gin, fresh lemon juice, and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker.
3. Fill the shaker with ice.
4. Shake hard for about 10 to 15 seconds until well chilled.
5. Strain into the chilled glass.
6. Top with chilled Champagne.
7. Stir gently once to combine.
8. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
9. Serve immediately while cold and sparkling.

For a classic benchmark, you can compare this with the official IBA French 75 recipe, which uses gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Champagne.

Quick Answer: How Do You Make a French 75?

To make a French 75, shake 30ml gin, 15ml fresh lemon juice, and 15ml sugar syrup with ice. Strain into a chilled flute, top with 60ml Champagne, stir gently, and serve immediately.

Best Gin for French 75

The best gin for a French 75 should be clean, smooth, and bright enough to work with lemon and Champagne. A London Dry Gin is a reliable choice because it gives the cocktail a crisp botanical backbone.

A citrus-forward gin can also work well if you want a brighter and more aromatic drink. Avoid overly heavy or very unusual gins unless you want a more experimental version.

Choose a gin that is:

• Smooth and clean
• Not overly sweet
• Balanced with citrus or herbal notes
• Suitable for shaken cocktails
• Authentic and properly sourced

You can browse gin options here: Gin Collection.

Champagne or Sparkling Wine: Which Is Better?

Champagne gives the most classic and elegant version of a French 75. It adds fine bubbles, crisp acidity, and a more refined finish.

However, dry sparkling wine can also work well for home entertaining. Prosecco, Cava, or other dry sparkling wines can make the cocktail more affordable and still enjoyable.

Use Champagne if you want:

• A more classic French 75
• Finer bubbles
• A sharper and more elegant finish
• A stronger celebration feel

Use dry sparkling wine if you want:

• A more affordable version
• A lighter and fruitier drink
• An easier party serve
• More flexibility for home mixing

You can browse Champagne options here: Champagne Collection.

You can also browse sparkling wine options here: Sparkling Wine Collection.

Fresh Lemon Juice or Bottled Lemon Juice?

Fresh lemon juice is strongly recommended for French 75. Since the drink is light and sparkling, bottled lemon juice can make it taste sharp, flat, or artificial.

Fresh lemon juice gives better aroma, cleaner acidity, and a brighter finish.

Use fresh lemon juice if you want:

• Better citrus aroma
• Cleaner sourness
• A fresher cocktail
• Better balance with Champagne

Sugar Syrup: How Much Should You Use?

Sugar syrup balances the lemon juice and helps the cocktail taste smooth. Without it, the French 75 can taste too sharp.

Start with 15ml sugar syrup. Then adjust based on your Champagne and lemon juice.

• If the drink tastes too sour, add a little more syrup.
• If the drink tastes too sweet, reduce the syrup or use drier Champagne.
• If the drink tastes flat, use fresher lemon juice.
• If the drink tastes too strong, add slightly more Champagne.

The best French 75 should be crisp and balanced, not syrupy.

Should a French 75 Be Shaken or Stirred?

Shake only the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup. Do not shake the Champagne.

After shaking the base ingredients with ice, strain them into the glass and top with chilled Champagne. Stir gently once to combine.

This method works because it:

• Chills the gin and lemon mixture properly
• Preserves the Champagne bubbles
• Prevents overflow in the shaker
• Keeps the cocktail light and sparkling

French 75 Taste Profile

A French 75 should taste cold, sparkling, citrusy, lightly sweet, and elegant. It should not taste like plain Champagne, and it should not taste like strong gin lemonade.

A good French 75 should be:

• Cold
• Sparkling
• Citrusy
• Lightly sweet
• Botanical from gin
• Clean and elegant on the finish

If your French 75 tastes too sour, add a little more sugar syrup. If it tastes too sweet, reduce the syrup or use drier Champagne. If it tastes too strong, increase the Champagne slightly.

French 75 Variations

Once you understand the classic French 75, you can adjust it with different spirits or sparkling wine styles.

Classic French 75

Use gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and Champagne. This is the standard modern version.

Cognac French 75

Replace gin with cognac for a richer, warmer, and more rounded version. Some historical versions use brandy or cognac instead of gin.

Prosecco French 75

Use Prosecco instead of Champagne for a softer, fruitier, and more affordable version.

Rosé French 75

Use rosé Champagne or rosé sparkling wine for a pink colour and light red-fruit profile.

Elderflower French 75

Add a small amount of elderflower liqueur for a floral variation. Reduce the sugar syrup slightly to avoid making the drink too sweet.

French 95

Replace gin with bourbon for a deeper and warmer whiskey-based variation.

What to Serve with French 75

French 75 pairs well with light, elegant, salty, and citrus-friendly food. Its bubbles and lemon acidity work especially well with seafood, cheese, and canapés.

Good food pairings include:

• Smoked salmon
• Oysters
• Grilled prawns
• Cheese platter
• Bruschetta
• Roast chicken bites
• Fresh salad
• Light pastries
• Lemon tart

For home entertaining, serve French 75 as a welcome drink, brunch cocktail, celebration toast, or pre-dinner cocktail.

Common French 75 Mistakes

1. Shaking the Champagne

Do not shake Champagne. Shake only the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup, then top with Champagne after straining.

2. Using bottled lemon juice

Fresh lemon juice gives a brighter and cleaner cocktail. Bottled lemon juice can taste artificial.

3. Making it too sweet

French 75 should be crisp, not syrupy. Start with 15ml sugar syrup and adjust carefully.

4. Using warm Champagne

The drink should be cold and sparkling. Warm Champagne makes the cocktail taste flat.

5. Serving it in a warm glass

A chilled glass helps keep the bubbles lively and the drink refreshing for longer.

Where to Buy Champagne, Sparkling Wine and Gin for French 75 in Malaysia

If you want to make French 75 at home, the key bottles are gin and Champagne or sparkling wine. Gin gives the drink structure, while Champagne adds bubbles and elegance.

At Blue Ocean Wine House, you can shop authentic Champagne, sparkling wine, gin, whisky, cognac, rum, vodka, tequila, liqueur, and other alcoholic beverages online in Malaysia.

Explore related categories:

• Buy Champagne Online in Malaysia
• Buy Sparkling Wine Online in Malaysia
• Buy Gin Online in Malaysia
• Shop Spirits Online
• Shop Liqueur Online
• Shop Wine Online

Note: Alcohol is only for non-Muslim customers aged 21 and above in Malaysia. Please drink responsibly. For general responsible drinking guidance, you can refer to DrinkIQ.

Frequently Asked Questions About French 75

What alcohol is used in a French 75?

A classic French 75 uses gin and Champagne. It also includes fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup.

Can I use Prosecco instead of Champagne?

Yes. Champagne gives the most classic version, but Prosecco or dry sparkling wine can make a lighter and more affordable French 75.

Do you shake or stir a French 75?

Shake the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup with ice. Do not shake the Champagne. Top with Champagne after straining, then stir gently once.

Is French 75 strong?

Yes, it can be stronger than it tastes because it contains both gin and Champagne. Serve it cold and drink responsibly.

Can I make French 75 with cognac?

Yes. Cognac French 75 is a richer and warmer variation. Gin is the standard modern version, while cognac gives a different classic-style profile.

What glass should I use for French 75?

A Champagne flute is the classic choice. A coupe glass also works well for a more vintage presentation.

Can I prepare French 75 in advance?

You can pre-mix gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup, but add Champagne only when serving. This keeps the bubbles fresh.

What garnish is best for French 75?

A lemon twist is a good garnish because it adds citrus aroma without making the drink heavier.

Final Takeaway

A great French 75 is cold, sparkling, citrusy, and elegant. Use gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, and chilled Champagne. Shake the base ingredients, top with Champagne, and serve immediately.

For a classic version, start with 30ml gin, 15ml fresh lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, and 60ml Champagne. From there, adjust the syrup or Champagne based on your preferred balance.

Ready to make your own French 75? Shop Champagne, sparkling wine, gin, whisky, cognac, vodka, rum, tequila, liqueur, and other authentic alcoholic beverages online at Blue Ocean Wine House.