It may be known as a bubbly and slightly sweet cocktail often served in celebration, but surprisingly enough, the french 75 was named after a quick-firing anti-aircraft artillery gun.
Drinking this potent combination of alcohol was likened to being shot in the chest by the French 75mm field gun during World War I. Regarded as the first modern artillery piece, the French 75 was a symbol of hope in the battle against Germany.
The cocktail's exact inception remains unclear, but many attribute the recipe to Harry MacElhone, who is said to have created it at the New York Bar in Paris. Known simply as the soixante-quinze (75), the serve first appeared in print in MacElhone's Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails in 1922.
While his original called for calvados, gin, grenadine and absinthe, different iterations of the french 75 quickly began popping up in other cocktail books, until it was settled as a mix of champagne, gin, sugar and lemon juice.
These days, there are plenty of modern takes on this fizzy favourite, but right now we're loving The Cloak Bar's Flight 75, made with a honey apple shrub. Read the recipe below.
