Serious and sophisticated, yet bubbly and playful! The French 76
The French 76. Nothing beats a champagne cocktail for New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, or any other special occasion. You’ll encounter sensory pleasures even before the first sip of the champagne. First, the sound of the pop of the cork. Then the tiny bubbles tickle your nose, sending champagne aroma into the air. Perfect for the holiday season to impress your guests.

I had just heard of the French 76 on my last trip to Charleston. I saw the Bartender make one and asked him for the recipe. The cocktail sounded delightful, and ‘I had to try it!’. I found the French 76 easy to make and tastes sublime.
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Ingredients you’ll need to make the French 76

The French 76 is made with Vodka, Champagne, lemon juice, and simple syrup. This cocktail is a modern twist on an old favorite, the French 75, made with Gin. The French 75 dated back to World War I and was also called a 75 Cocktail, or in French, Soixante Quinze (Seventy Five).
Bar Tools

You can only mix a great cocktail with a great shaker. I have at least a dozen shakers, but this one from OXO is my favorite. The shaker doesn’t leak, and the cap will measure from 1/2 to 1.5 ounces. And it is dishwasher safe! You can’t go wrong with OXO.

Remember, the French 76 is served in a champagne flute. If you don’t have champagne flutes, try these from Lenox, they are simple yet elegant.
How to make a French 76
Pour the vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker with ice. You can use either lemon from a bottle or freshly squeezed lemon juice. Of course, freshly squeezed lemon juice is best. If you don’t have a lemon squeezer, try this one from OXO. The non-slip grip is perfect for squeezing lemons and limes.
Strain the ingredients into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Add a cherry for garnish.
More Romantic Champagne Cocktails
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French 76
Ingredients
- 1 Ounce Greygoose Vodka
- 1/2 Ounce Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Simple Syrup
- 1 Maraschino cherry
- Top with Brut Champagne
Instructions
- Pour the first 3 ingredients into a shaker with with ice
- Shake 5 seconds and pour into a chilled flute glass
- Top with champagne
- Add a cherry
- Voila!
If you’ve tried this, please leave a comment and rating below.