French 75 — tasting notes & food pairings

French 75

The French 75 is the great Champagne cocktail of the gin family — a gin sour of gin, lemon juice and sugar, shaken cold and then lengthened with a pour of Champagne in a tall flute or coupe. Bright, dry and effervescent, it joins the sharp citrus snap of a lemon sour to the toast and mousse of sparkling wine, a drink that is at once a refreshing aperitif and a celebration in a glass. It is named, with a soldier's dark humour, after the French 75 mm field gun of the First World War — said to hit with the same sudden kick.

Crisp & tart14% ABV

A pale-gold sparkling sour of moderate strength, lifted by fine, persistent bubbles. It leads with the sharp, bright zest of fresh lemon over a juniper-led, botanical gin base, lengthened and brightened by brut Champagne that adds biscuity toast, a faint nutty richness and its own brisk acidity. The sugar rounds the edges without making it sweet, and the effervescence carries the citrus and botanicals up off the surface. Sour-led, dry and lively, it finishes long and clean on lemon oils, juniper and sparkling-wine toast rather than sweetness.