French 75

Revision as of 20:10, 30 November 2006

The French 75 is a Cocktail which consists of either Gin, Fresh Lemon Juice, Sugar, and Champagne.

Why is it called a French 75?

The French 75 is named after a WW1 artillery gun used by the French; the gun was a 75 millimetre.

Historical References

"Here's How", Judge Jnr, 1927

This drink is really what won the War for the Allies:

• 2 jiggers Gordon water;
• 1 part lemon juice;
• a spoonful of powdered sugar;
• cracked ice.
• Fill up the rest of a tall glass with champagne!
• (If you use club soda instead of champagne, you have a Tom Collins.)

"My New Cocktail Book," by G. F. Steele, March 1930

• 2/3 Dry Gin
• 1/3 Lemon Juice
• Gum syrup to taste
• Fill up rest of a tall glass with Champagne!

"The Savoy Cocktail Book," by Harry Craddock, 1930

The French "75" Cocktail.

• 2/3 Gin.
• 1/3 Lemon Juice.
• 1 Spoonful Powdered Sugar.

Pour into tall glass containing cracked Ice and fill up with Champagne.

David Wondrich Says

"The French 75 is rather an open question -- with Cognac and no lemon juice or sugar, it's a French drink, although I don't think they called it that (officers used to drink it before going over the top in WWI). With gin, lemon juice and sugar (basically, a Tom Collins with champagne instead of soda water), it seems unlikely that it was originally French. Off the top of my head, I think it first shows up in the 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, which is English. But the French cannon after which it was named wasn't used by the English in WWI and was used by the Americans, so I'd bet there's a Yank in the works somewhere."

Other References of Interest

"Banquet Book," by Cuyler Reynolds, 1902

"Punch. Most punches use a combination of strong liquors and wines, such as gin and champagne. Lemon is indispensable, and they are usually well sweetened."

Coctails and how to mix them, byRobert Vermiere, 1922

Lists a '75 Cocktail but no French '75

'75 Cocktail

• 2 dashes grenadine
• 1 teaspoonful lemon juice
• 1/6 gill Calvados
• 2/6 gill Dry Gin

Shake well and strain into a Cocktail glass.

"This Cocktail was very well appreciated in Paris during the war. It has been called after the famous light French field gun, and was introduced by Henry of Henry's bar fame in Paris."

Note: This story about the '75 Cocktail is exactly the same as that which is often repeated about the French '75.

Harry MacElhone

'75 Cocktail

• 1 teaspoonful of Absinthe
• 2/3 Calvados
• 1/3 Gin
• Shake and Strain

(This is the original 1915 recipe of the French '75 cocktail)

• French 75