French 75 is simply known as a "candy" cocktail made entirely from ginger ale, grape juice, lemon juice and sugar. This drink was first created in Paris, France around 1870, and since then has gained a reputation for being fun, delicious, and oh so elegant! A true connoisseur of fine beverages should be able to create this cocktail by just sipping it from a glass. If you happen to be one of those people who can't partake in this fine cocktail due to having a horrible palate, don't worry; we'll show you how to recreate it so that you can be enjoying it every single night.
First, let's start with some supplies. You are going to need the ingredients you'll need for this drink: gin (or another form of dry vermouth), brandy (brandy or whiskey depending on your preferences), lemon juice, garnish (tartar), and non-flavored gelatin. Now, since I'm guessing you don't live anywhere near Paris, it may be a bit difficult to find all these things in your local stores. Therefore, you're going to have to get them online! Luckily, finding a good quality online cocktail shop is really easy nowadays, and you should have no trouble finding a tutorial or recipe guide that will teach you everything you need to know to make this tasty cocktail.
Now, we need to get started. To begin, mix together the gin, brandy, and lemon juice. You may want to try different combinations until you find one that you like the most. You should be aware that flavor doesn't go quite as far back as you might think when making a French 75. For example, orange doesn't really work very well with this drink because it tends to take the lime juice palate out of it. Other fruits you might consider trying are strawberry, pineapple, and even pineapple juice.
Next, add the cognac and sugar to the cocktail shaker to make it a smoothie. Also, add some ice, and shake well. This will make a lovely, smooth drink. While it's still fairly chilled, you can also add other ingredients to it, such as an orange slice for a twist. If you'd rather not drink your cognac with juice, that's fine too, but I wouldn't recommend it. The alcohol in the cognac can take away from the drink if it's something you drink regularly.
The next thing you'll want to do is add the brandy and sugar to the top of a mixing glass. If you're using a barbeque glass, pour a little of the cognac or champagne into the glass. If you're using a mixing glass, add the ingredients to the bottom of the glass. The reason you want to do this is that oftentimes, the old ingredients mix better than the newer ones. So, by doing this, you'll get a more delicious French 75 cocktail.
Now, to make a French 75 you need three basic ingredients: the cognac or brandy, the lemon juice and the powdered sugar. For this drink, I like to use fresh lemon juice, however, if you don't have any, you can use the juice of one fresh lime. Also, you need to get the sugar ready. For this recipe, I like to use light corn syrup, but you may be able to substitute the white sugar instead. When you have all of these things prepared, you're ready to mix them together and enjoy your first drink!
If you are looking for more complicated drinks, such as a Manhattan or a Brandy Alexander, then you might find this recipe to be a bit overwhelming. That's why we recommend that you try out the other recipes listed above first. These three recipes will give you a good base for creating more complex flavors and drink recipes. Once you master the basic technique of making a great-tasting French 75, you will never look back!
If you are wondering where to buy a French 75 or just how to make one, we recommend either going online (to save on the money you would spend at the store) or checking out some of the fine French wine and cocktail bars around town (if you live in an area where there is a bar specializing in French wines, that is). Another option is to go to one of the many liquor stores in the area that sell both wine and cocktails. We recommend the St. Emilion in West Philadelphia. This shop sells a wide variety of both fine and low-alcohol beverages. They also have a nice selection of French 75s and other sparkling wines for your drinking pleasure!
