The French 76 is a French 75 built on vodka. Removing the gin's juniper leaves a cleaner, crisper drink in which the lemon, sugar, and Champagne speak for themselves — the most transparent member of the family.
The 75, with nothing in the way of the bubbles.
A Number, Not a Cannon
The French 75 was named for a French field gun of the First World War, said to have a kick like the cocktail. Its variations simply continued the numbering — the 76, the 95, the 125 — a tidy, if slightly arbitrary, naming convention.
Where Vodka Helps
Vodka makes the French 76 the most approachable of the family. With no botanicals to negotiate, it is pure citrus and sparkle — a clean, celebratory drink that asks nothing of the drinker.
Good Bubbles Matter
With the spirit kept quiet, the sparkling wine carries the drink. A dry Champagne or a good brut cava is worth the outlay; a flat, sweet sparkling wine has nowhere to hide here.
The French 75 Family
The classic — gin, lemon, sugar, and Champagne, a sour with a sparkling spine.
- 1 ozGin
- 1/2 ozLemon juice
- TopChampagne
The French 75 on bourbon — citrus and Champagne over a warm whiskey base.
- 1 ozBourbon
- 1/2 ozLemon juice
- TopChampagne
The French 75 built on Cognac — richer and rounder, and perhaps the true original.
- 1 ozCognac
- 1/2 ozLemon juice
- TopChampagne