Serious and sophisticated, yet bubbly and playful! The French 76

The French 76 is serious yet sophisticated. Nothing beats a champagne cocktail for New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Mother’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

1. Vodka
2. Champagne
3. Simple Syrup
4. Lemon Juice
5. Maraschino Cherries

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).

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Need to know what champagne to buy? I am not a champagne connoisseur. I’ve tried expensive champagnes like Dom Pérignon, Jouet, and Veuve Clicquot. But if I’m mixing a champagne cocktail, I tend to stay under $15 a bottle. Sweet champagnes are my preference, but until recently, I didn’t know that Brut meant unsweet and Extra Dry sweet.

Bar Tools

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The French 76 is served in a champagne flute. If you don’t have champagne flutes, try these, they are simple yet elegant.

Don’t have a cocktail shaker? You can only mix a great cocktail with a great shaker. I have at least a dozen shakers, but this one here 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 this stainless steel cocktail shaker.

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. 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 Awesome Champagne Cocktails

• Champagne Royale
• Champagne Sunset
• Pineapple Upside Down Champagne
• Frangelico Champagne
• Hpnotiq Bliss

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If you’ve tried this, please leave a comment and rating below.