Empress Gin French 75
This Empress gin French 75 makes any occasion feel special. It may look elegant, but this cocktail is so simple to make. Just shake, pour, and sip! It’s a fresh, floral, effervescent cocktail that even gin-hesitant folks will enjoy. Make it for cocktail parties, a special occasion, or your next celebration. (Even if you’re just celebrating the fact that it’s Friday…)
Reasons to love this Empress gin French 75
Empress gin is having a moment right now. You’ve probably seen this on your social media feed or at your local cocktail bar. It’s deep violet in the bottle, but once you add something acidic like lemon juice, it changes color! That’s thanks to butterfly pea flowers, which are sensitive to changes in pH.
But, is this bright purple gin even good, or is it all hype?
Let me tell you, it’s not hype – this stuff is actually delicious.
Aside from its pretty color, Empress gin has a light but complex floral flavor and isn’t too juniper-forward. (Juniper is that “pine needle-like” taste.) If you think you don’t like gin, please try this recipe first.
Fun facts about this recipe
If you’ve never had a French 75 cocktail, you’re in for a treat. This is one of my favorite cocktails. It’s bubbly, lemony, and doesn’t taste too boozy or sweet. (Although it is a deceptively strong drink – enjoy it responsibly!)
The French 75 as we know it has gone through many iterations, but it can be traced back to the early 1900s to a bar in Paris, France. It was first called, the “Soixante-Quinze” (that’s “75” in French), the name for a powerful 75-millimeter gun used by the French army during WWI. Apparently, the drink packed such a punch that its creator compared it to being hit by a “75.”
Yikes. Don’t worry, folks – this drink may be strong, but it’s also very pleasant to drink. I mean, just look at this thing!
Ingredients for a French 75
It might look complex, but a French 75 is pretty simple. You only need a handful of ingredients to whip one up. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Lemon – You’ll use fresh lemon juice for the cocktail and a lemon rind for an optional garnish.
- Simple syrup – You can buy this premade for convenience, but it’s way cheaper to make at home!
- To make a DIY simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and hot water until sugar is fully dissolved, then cool. (I usually pour hot water into a small container with a lid, add sugar, mix, then cover before refrigerating.)
- Empress gin – Empress gin is the way to go if you want a pretty purple color and light floral flavor! If you don’t have this gin or want something more affordable, you can use any gin you’d like. There are four basic types of gin – London Dry (usually pretty juniper-forward), Plymouth (more citrusy), Old Tom (sweeter), and New Western Dry (Empress falls into this category, more botanical and less juniper-forward). When in doubt, head to your local liquor store and ask for recommendations based on your price point and desired flavor profile!
- Dry sparkling wine – If you want to class it up with champagne, be my guest! If you’re looking for something more affordable, any dry sparkling wine will do the trick. (Cava, prosecco, or even a sparkling rosé will work.)
Tips for the best French 75 cocktail with Empress Gin
The preparation steps for this one are straightforward. Just shake, strain, and top with some bubbly. I’ve made quite a few French 75’s in my day – it is my favorite cocktail – so here are my tips for making a great one.
- Make a lemon twist. This really elevates the look of your cocktail and gives it a zesty aroma. I’ve tested a few methods for making lemon twists, but this one’s the easiest, in my opinion:
- Cut a thin slice of lemon (about 1/4 inch), cut it in half (so you have a semicircle), then peel or cut the flesh away from the rind.
- Press the rind flat against the cutting board, white pithy side up, then carefully trim away any excess pith by sliding your knife along the slice, parallel to the cutting board.
- Cut the ends diagonally to make points.
- When you’re ready to serve your cocktail, twist the rind over the top of your cocktail, then rest it on the rim or plop it right in.
- Use fresh lemon juice. The stuff from the bottle is convenient, but it doesn’t come close to the fresh flavor and aroma of fresh lemon.
- Shake the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice with ice. I know it’s tempting to pour the gin directly into your glass and watch it change color when it touches the lemon juice, but don’t. Shaking cocktails with ice dilutes and cools them, making for a more pleasant drink.
You can use any type of gin you like in a French 75, but there are some that work better than others. There are four basic types of gin – London Dry (usually pretty juniper-forward), Plymouth (more citrusy), Old Tom (sweeter), and New Western Dry (Empress falls into this category, more botanical and less juniper-forward). I recommend New Western Dry gins, as they have more citrusy and botanical notes that compliment the lemon in this drink. If you’re new to gin, try one that’s not too juniper-forward, like Empress, Hendricks, Malfy, or Plymouth.
You’ll need a champagne flute or coupe (a wine glass will also do in a pinch), a cocktail jigger (because proper measurements are important), a cocktail shaker (if you don’t have one, a mason jar with a lid can also work), and a cocktail strainer (because no one likes ice shards in their French 75).
Recipe modifications
- Make with a different type of gin – You can use any type of gin you like in a French 75, but I recommend New Western Dry gins, as they have more citrusy and botanical notes that compliment the lemon in this drink. If you’re new to gin, try one that’s not too juniper-forward, like Empress, Hendricks, Malfy, or Plymouth.
- Vodka version – Keep in mind, gin and vodka are very similar spirits, but gin has extra stuff added to it (herbs, citrus, botanicals) that make it more complex. If you’ve tried my gin recommendations already and you’re still a certified gin-hater, you can also make this with vodka (plain or citrus-flavored).
- Add other spirits – See this helpful article from Difford’s Guide for details, but French 75’s can also be made with other spirits like absinthe, cognac, bourbon, tequila, and elderflower liquor.
- Add fruit – Muddled fruit or a fruit garnish can add some extra color, flavor, and sweetness. Try strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, or peach.
- Make a flavored simple syrup – This is an easy way to put a spin on this cocktail. If you know how to make simple syrup, you can make a flavored simple syrup! Depending on what you infuse it with, you’ll most likely need to strain it before cooling. You can use fruit, tea, herbs, or spices. Lavender, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, peach, chamomile, ginger, pear, honey, or thyme syrups would taste lovely in a French 75.
Empress Gin French 75
Equipment
- 1 champagne flute or coupe
- 1 cocktail jigger
- 1 cocktail shaker cup
- 1 cocktail strainer
Ingredients
- lemon twist (optional garnish)
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (see notes for recipe and modifications)
- 1 ½ oz Empress gin
- 2 oz dry sparkling wine
Instructions
- Put your champagne flute or coupe in the freezer to chill. Make your lemon twist garnish (cut a thin slice of lemon, peel the flesh away from the rind, then cut off any excess rind and clean up the edges if desired).
- Add fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and gin to a cocktail shaker. Add ice (a large cube works best), seal the shaker, and shake until the cup is very cold – about 10-15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into the chilled champagne flute or coupe, then top with sparkling wine (about 2 oz, or enough to fill the glass). Garnish with a lemon twist. Cheers!
Notes
- Please note that nutrition facts are an estimate and can vary widely based on amounts and specific types used.
- To make simple syrup, mix equal parts sugar and hot water until sugar is fully dissolved, then cool. (I usually pour hot water into a small container with a lid, add sugar, mix, and cover before refrigerating.)
- Don’t want to use/make simple syrup? You have options! Add one of the following to your shaker cup after lemon juice, then stir until dissolved:
- Powdered sugar – 1 tsp
- Table sugar – 2 tsp
Nutrition
Looking for more citrusy cocktail recipes?
- Strawberry Limoncello Spritz
- Kentucky Bourbon Mule
- Pomegranate Moscow Mule
- Beachy Pineapple Vodka Cocktail
