French 75

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   Chill 2 flute or coupe glasses in the freezer for a few minutes if possible. Meanwhile, prepare the garnish by cutting 2 thin strips of lemon peel, avoiding too much white pith so the garnish stays aromatic rather than bitter.

2. 2

   Fill a cocktail shaker with the ice cubes. Add the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.

3. 3

   Shake hard for 10-15 seconds, until the shaker feels very cold. This both chills and lightly dilutes the drink; proper chilling keeps the sparkling wine lively when added later.

4. 4

   Strain the mixture evenly into the chilled glasses, leaving room at the top for the sparkling wine.

5. 5

   Top each glass with the chilled Champagne or dry sparkling wine. Pour slowly to preserve the bubbles, then twist a strip of lemon peel over each drink to release its oils and drop it in or rest it on the rim. Serve immediately.

Nutrition per serving

Notes

• •For a classic balance, use a London dry gin and a brut Champagne or other dry sparkling wine.
• •If you prefer a slightly tarter drink, reduce the simple syrup to 15 ml total.
• •Very cold sparkling wine is essential: it foams less and keeps the cocktail crisp.
• •A coupe gives a vintage look, while a flute preserves bubbles longer.

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