No. 10

Prosecco CocktailsFrench 75

A Paris classic, made fresher

3Prosecco

1gin

½lemon

½syrup

Gin, fresh lemon and a little sugar, shaken, strained into a flute and topped with Prosecco1. Fresher and fruitier than the Champagne original, and it costs less to pour.

By Michael Goldstein · 4 min read

The recipe

Flute · no ice · shaken

Drinks

Pour it

3 ozBella Principessa Roséchilled
1 ozGin
½ ozFresh lemon juice
½ ozSimple syrupequal parts sugar and hot water, cooled
1 twistOf lemon peellong

Poured with the Gold, our Brut: the classic French 75. Swap in the Rosé, our blush Prosecco DOC Rosé, also Brut: gin and lemon with a red‑berry finish.

Poured with the Rosé, our blush Prosecco DOC Rosé, also Brut: gin and lemon with a red‑berry finish. With the Gold, it’s the crisp classic.

Tap each step as you go.

Salute.

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Ships to 43 states.

Why shake first and pour last?

The gin, lemon and sugar need the shaker. The Prosecco never goes near it: shaken bubbles are lost bubbles.

Which Prosecco for a French 75?

The driest you can find, because the syrup brings the sweetness. Pour the Pink for a Rosé 75.

GoldDOC Brut

Bella Principessa Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

PinkDOC Rosé Brut

The Prosecco in this recipe: Bella Principessa, at ProseccoWine.com.

The Story

Named after a gun.
Drunk like a compliment.

It hits like artillery.

The French 75 takes its name from the French 75 mm field gun of the First World War2, a fair warning about what a full ounce of gin and a glass of bubbles can do.

A Savoy classic.

The recipe was printed as the French 75 in The Savoy Cocktail Book in 19302, which made it famous. It has looked expensive ever since. That’s the point.

Your turn.

You’re here because it’s the drink people order when they want to look like they know what they’re doing. It’s the one drink on our list that needs a shaker, and the one people ask for again.

Behind the Bar

Four ways
to misfire.

Errori da Evitare

Bella Principessa Social Club

Shaking the Prosecco

Shake the base; pour the bubbles last.

Bottled lemon juice

Squeeze it fresh. It’s half the drink.

Extra Dry

The sweeter style tips it toward lemonade.

A warm flute

Chill the glass; the drink has no ice.

Salute.

Variations

Same glass,
another mood.

★Cognac 75Cognac instead of gin. Rounder and warmer, for winter.

✿Elderflower 75Replace half the syrup with elderflower liqueur.

×8For a crowdMix the gin, lemon and syrup ahead; shake each to order.

Kir PétillantCassis and Prosecco: another Paris classic.

French 75 questions.

Gin or cognac?

Gin in most recipes, including the earliest printed ones. Cognac is a popular variation.

Can I make it with Prosecco instead of Champagne?

Yes. It’s lighter and fruitier, and Brut keeps it dry.

How strong is a French 75?

Stronger than a mimosa or a spritz: a full ounce of gin plus the wine.

Please enjoy responsibly: 21+ only, and plan a safe way home.

Sources

Any brand named here belongs to its owner and is named only to describe the recipe; Bella Principessa is independent of those brands and their owners.

Written by

Michael Goldstein

Founder and Creative Director, Bella Principessa

He believes the best introductions happen over a glass, and that time with family and friends, old and new, is the real luxury. He writes here about the brand and the people who share it.

Read his story →

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