Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

French 75

Gin and lemon shaken cold, then topped with champagne — named for a field gun because it hits hard. Elegant, celebratory and crisp.

Preparation~2 minEasyStrengthMediumabout 16% ABVMethodShaken8 guided stepsIngredients4Champagne flute

Sparkling

In the glassGin · Fresh lemon juice · Simple syrup · Champagne

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear champagne flute with a tall narrow bowl and slender stem. — Serving glassChampagne flute

Set up before you pour

Use a champagne flute.

The narrow bowl slows the loss of bubbles and keeps sparkling cocktails bright for longer.

Standard size: 180 ml6 oz
Ice & serve: Chill it first; serve without ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a small white-wine glass if a flute is unavailable.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

Compare all glass types

Scale to your champagne fluteWe’ll remember this glass size.

Gin30 ml
Champagne75 ml
Fresh lemon juice15 ml
Simple syrup10 ml

Start making

From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 30 ml gin into your shaker
- Gin
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml fresh lemon juice
- Fresh lemon juice
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 10 ml simple syrup
- Simple syrup
04
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
05
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
06
Strain cleanly
Strain into a chilled glass — no ice
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
07
Top gently
Top with 75 ml champagne
- Champagne
08
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a lemon twist

Know your drink

About the French 75

A gin highball, dry Martini and ruby bitter gin cocktail in a botanical bar.

Celebration with a recoil

The French 75 is what happens when a Tom Collins goes to a wedding: the same gin-lemon-sugar frame, finished with Champagne instead of soda. Serve it in a flute for ceremony or over ice in a Collins glass the way New Orleans’ Arnaud’s French 75 Bar does.

Common questions

French 75 FAQ

Champagne or prosecco in a French 75?

Any good dry (brut) sparkling wine works — Champagne is traditional, but a crisp crémant or dry prosecco keeps it affordable when you’re pouring for a crowd. Sweetness is the thing to avoid; the drink already has syrup.

Why is it called a French 75?

It’s named after the French 75mm field gun of World War I — the drink was said to hit with the same smooth-then-devastating effect. It was codified at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris around 1915.

What ingredients are in a French 75?

A classic French 75 calls for 30 ml (1 oz) Gin, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Fresh lemon juice, 10 ml (0.25 oz) Simple syrup, 75 ml (2.5 oz) Champagne. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a French 75?

A standard French 75 is roughly 16% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a French 75 shaken or stirred?

A French 75 is shaken — the rule of thumb is to shake anything with citrus juice. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

What glass do you serve a French 75 in?

Serve a French 75 in a champagne flute, well chilled — this drink is served without ice, so a cold glass keeps it cold.

How many calories are in a French 75?

One French 75 has approximately 200 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

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