Cocktail · Gin Cocktails

French 75 Recipe

Name: French 75
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Yield: 1 drink
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 30 ml Gin; 15 ml Fresh lemon juice; 10 ml Sugar syrup; 60 ml Champagne; 1 strip Lemon peel

Gin, lemon and sugar topped with champagne.

Gin and champagne

Base Spirit

~15%

Approx ABV

Easy

Difficulty

3 min

Prep Time

🥂 Champagne flute 🧊 None, served up Crisp, citrusy, sparkling

The French 75 is a sparkling cocktail of gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup, shaken and topped with champagne. It is crisp, citrusy and stronger than it tastes, and it is the standard celebration cocktail for brunches, weddings and New Year's Eve.

Ingredients

Makes

30 ml Gin
15 ml Fresh lemon juice
10 ml Sugar syrup
60 ml Champagne Or another dry sparkling wine, chilled
1 strip Lemon peel For the garnish

Garnish: Lemon twist

How to Make a French 75

Add the gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a shaker.
Fill with ice and shake for 10 seconds.
Strain into a champagne flute.
Top slowly with chilled champagne.
Garnish with a long lemon twist.

Best Bottles for a French 75 in India

Top pick

Tanqueray London Dry Gin

From ₹1,530 · ★ 8.5/10
Firm juniper stands up to champagne

Alternative

Bombay Sapphire Gin

From ₹2,125 · ★ 8.3/10
Lighter and more citrus-led

Budget

Gordon's London Dry Gin

From ₹1,215 · ★ 7.1/10
Good value for parties

Alternative

Hennessy VSOP Cognac

From ₹8,075 · ★ 8.7/10
For the New Orleans cognac version

Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.

Tips for a Better French 75

Add the champagne last and pour slowly. It foams quickly over the citrus.
Brut champagne, cava, crémant and dry prosecco all work. Avoid sweet sparkling wine.
Chill the flute so that the drink stays cold without ice.

About the French 75

The drink is named after the French 75mm field gun of the First World War, a fast-firing artillery piece that became a symbol of the Allied effort. The joke was that the cocktail hit with the same force.

It is associated with Harry's New York Bar in Paris, where Harry MacElhone served an early version around 1915. Early recipes varied a great deal, and some used calvados or cognac. The formula of gin, lemon, sugar and champagne appeared in print in the late 1920s and reached a wide audience through The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930.

There is still a split. In New Orleans, Arnaud's French 75 Bar makes it with cognac, and many bartenders prefer that version in winter. The gin version is the IBA official recipe and the one you will be served in most of Europe, the United States and Australia.

French 75 Variations

Cognac French 75: cognac in place of gin, as served in New Orleans.
French 76: vodka in place of gin.
French 77: add 10ml of elderflower liqueur and reduce the sugar syrup.
Old Cuban: aged rum, mint, lime and bitters topped with sparkling wine.
Tom Collins: soda water in place of champagne, served tall over ice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is in a French 75?

A French 75 is made with 30ml (1 oz) gin, 15ml (0.5 oz) fresh lemon juice, 10ml (2 tsp) sugar syrup and 60ml (2 oz) champagne. It is served in a champagne flute.

How strong is a French 75?

Made to this recipe, a French 75 is about 15% ABV and contains roughly 15 g of pure alcohol. That is about 1.1 US standard drinks, 1.5 Australian standard drinks or 1.9 UK units. It has around 140 calories per serving.

Why is it called a French 75?

It is named after the French 75mm field gun used in the First World War. The drink was said to have a kick like the gun.

Is a French 75 made with gin or cognac?

Both are historically valid. Gin is the IBA standard and tastes brighter. Cognac makes a richer, rounder drink and is traditional in New Orleans.

Do you have to use champagne?

No. Any good dry sparkling wine works, including crémant, cava, English sparkling wine, Australian sparkling wine and brut prosecco.

What gin is best for a French 75?

A classic London dry gin such as Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire. Its juniper and citrus stand up to the wine.

Drink responsibly. The legal drinking age in India varies by state, from 18 to 25. Alcohol content shown is an estimate and changes with ice, dilution and the strength of the bottle you use. We do not sell alcohol.

About the Author

Shivam Sharma

I am the founder and editor of The Spirit Atlas. With a deep appreciation for fine spirits, I built this platform to be the most helpful and honest spirits guide for Indian readers — covering everything from Scotch and Indian single malts to rum, gin and tequila, along with prices across every major Indian state. My goal is simple: to make the world of spirits a little more approachable for everyone.

Last updated: October 2026