Lavender French 75 Cocktail
I love a good cocktail, especially around special occasions. This Lavender French 75 Cocktail is an epic spin on the classic French 75 cocktail. I use Empress Gin which is wonderful in flavor and color and a favorite in my own home. This cocktail is crisp with the subtle flavor of lemon, the herbal sweetness of homemade Lavender syrup, Empress gin, and topped with an effervescent sparkling wine. Garnish with fresh Lavender sprigs and cheers!
What is a French 75 cocktail?
The French 75 is one of the most classic cocktails. Like many classic food and cocktails, its origins are murky. Dating back to the First World War, Liquor.com informs us that this cocktail was named after a field gun that fired fast rounds. I’m unclear about the correlation between the cocktail and the weapon, but one thing is sure: this cocktail is delicious! The name is a side note, you will love this cocktail, and you will make it again. I love to serve this for a special brunch or festive evenings like Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
The original French 75 cocktail is made of gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup and topped with Champagne. My version uses homemade Lavender simple syrup and a crisp sparkling white wine. Lastly, I prefer a more herbal gin like Empress 1908 or Hendricks, which pairs perfectly with the lavender.
Ingredients for Lavender French 75
- 1 ounce of botanical gin like Empress 1908
- 3/4-1 ounce of Lavender simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 oz of sparkling wine or champagne
- fresh lavender sprigs
How to serve a French 75
This delectable cocktail is best served in a champagne glass or coupe glass. Champagne glasses are typically fluted and coupe glasses are wide and shallow. I used Champagne glasses, pictured above. An example of a coupe glass is shown below with my Pomerita cocktail.
Variations of the French 75 cocktail
Variations abound for this cocktail. Some variations include vodka, aka a French 76. Forbes outlines 5 really interesting variations that sound delish! One variation that includes Peach, the Peachy Keen is perfect for Summer and special occasion brunch. The French 69 with berry-infused gin and lavender syrup for a fruit floral spin that sounds divine. An extra Citrusy French 75 with grapefruit gin and a splash of orange. Also a tropical touch on this classic cocktail and a smokey version with Mezcal.
Tips for crafting this cocktail
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice; the cocktail pops with flavor with fresh lemon juice.
- I highly recommend a dry sparkling wine or champagne. Not a prosecco-type sparkler. Choose a tart, dry champagne so the cocktail is not too sweet.
- Lavender simple syrup is available ready-made in a specialty liquor store, but I also have a recipe for Lavender syrup in my Lavender lemonade post. My Lavender Lemonade is so good that a splash of gin or vodka makes it a refreshing cocktail as well! If you opt for prepared Lavender simple syrup, start with 1/2 ounce for the cocktail and adjust to your taste. I use my recipe for Lavender simple syrup, and I recommend 3/4 to 1 ounce per cocktail.Â
- For garnish, opt for fresh Lavender sprigs. If you can’t find fresh lavender, use a thick piece of lemon peel instead.
How to make a Lavender French 75
Using a cocktail shaker, fill with ice. Add 1 ounce of gin, 3/4 ounce of Lavender simple syrup, and 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake until the cocktail is combined. Pour through the strainer into a champagne flute. Top with 3 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine and garnish with fresh lemon peel or a fresh sprig of lavender.
Enjoy responsibly!
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Lavender French 75 Cocktail
May 9, 2024Equipment
- 1 small sauce pan if you opt for homemade simple syrup
- Glasses for serving Champagne flutes or coupe cocktail glasses, 6-8 ounces
- 1 cocktail shaker with strainer
Ingredients
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup of white granulated sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of dried Lavender flowers
Lavender French 75 Cocktail
- 1 ounce Gin Empress 1908 or Hendricks
- 3/4-1 ounce Lavender syrup homemade or store-bought
- 1/2 ounce Lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 3 ounces Champagne or sparkling wine dry
- Ice
- Fresh Lavender for garnish
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
Lavender simple syrup (optional) if you purchased Lavender simple syrup, jump to the recipe for Lavender French 75 Cocktail
- Using a small saucepan, add 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar, and the dried Lavender flowers.
- Bring the mixture to a slow simmer. Simmer for about 1-2 minutes until all the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Turn the heat off and allow the syrup to steep for 15 minutes.
- Once the syrup has steeped, strain it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the Lavender flowers. The syrup is now ready to use in the lemonade.
Lavender French 75 Cocktail
- Using a cocktail shaker, fill with ice.
- Add 1 ounce of gin, 3/4 ounce of Lavender simple syrup, 1/2 ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake until the cocktail is combined.
- Pour through the strainer into a champagne flute.
- Top with 3 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine and garnish with fresh lemon peel or a fresh sprig of lavender.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated online and should be used as a guide.
All content and photographs ©Claudia’s Table and claudiastable.com
