I feel it only appropriate to share a little bubbly for this fifth, and last, installment of The Liquid Muse Virtual Repeal Day Party 2020! (See the blog for previous posts.)
On this day in 1933, the United States ended Prohibition. America had been “dry” since 1920… so can you just imagine the wild and boozy parties that took place?!
The French 75, like many of our early imbibable treasures, is shrouded in conflicting lore. Some say it was first created in Paris - and that part is likely - but was it initially made with cognac? Or with gin, as we typically drink it today?
Here’s what we do know… the French 75 is named after a rapid-fire 75-millimeter gun used by the French army in World War One. Cocktail Historian, David Wondrich, notes the recipe first appearing in a book called Here’s How in 1927, and in Harry Craddock’s The Savoy Cocktail Book in 1930. Wondrich, however, wonders if the mixture had existed long before it was given a name.
We also know that gin and champagne were meant to be liquid lovers… gin’s botanical aromatics dance like spirited fairies tickling the nose when lifted by the effervescence of sparkling wine. Add to that a splash of fresh citrus and a kiss of sugar… and it’s easy to see why this drink remains a favorite throughout the decades.
However, it is also thought that the French 75 originated with cognac instead of gin, which also makes perfect sense if created in Paris in honor of French weaponry. And, frankly, I would argue that cognac in place of any spirit in just about any cocktail would make it equally good…if not improve it, all together. (Yes, my French blood runs laced with a little bit of cognac, I’m sure!)
So, my friends, whether you mix up your own French 75 with gin or cognac, let’s all lift a glass to the end of that god-awful time when liquor was illegal throughout the country that was ironically built upon freedom … and express our gratitude for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all people!
French 75
The glass in this photo is simply EXTRA! It is borrowed from this article in PunchDrink by Daniel Krieger
1 oz gin (or cognac)
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
3 oz champagne
Garnish: lemon twist
Shake with spirit, lemon and simple syrup with ice, strain into a champagne coupe or flute. Top with champagne, give a little stir to mix.