Ina Garten French 75

Ina Garten French 75 turns Cognac, fresh lemon juice and chilled Champagne into a crisp, sparkling cocktail in 10 minutes. Try this simple recipe for friends on New Year's Eve, at a holiday party or on a summer brunch table, since it shakes up fast and serves four.

Shake the Cognac, simple syrup, lemon juice and ice for a full 30 seconds, because that is what chills and dilutes the mix properly. Cut it short and the drink tastes sharp and warm instead of smooth and ice cold.

Ina Garten found this cocktail in Vintage Cocktails, the first book by Brian Van Flandern, after friends who love good drinks gave her a copy. She liked it so much that she has bought every book he has written since, and this one is sweet, lemony and rich with Cognac.

Source: Cooking for Jeffrey (2016)

Ina Garten French 75

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Course: BeverageCuisine: American, FrenchDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking timeminutes

Calories

230

kcal

Cognac, lemon and simple syrup get a long, hard shake over ice, then a pour of cold Champagne lifts the whole glass. It comes out bright, bubbly and lightly sweet with a long strip of lemon zest on top.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) VS or VSOP Cognac
  

• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) simple syrup (see note)
  

• 1/3 cup (3 ounces) freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
  

• 2 cups ice cubes
  

• 1 (750 ml) bottle good Champagne, chilled
  

• 4 long strips of lemon zest (see note)
  

Directions

• Make the syrup: Stir equal parts water and sugar, 1 cup of each, in a small saucepan over high heat until it boils. Once the sugar has dissolved, let the syrup cool completely before you use it.
• Zest the lemons: Use a sharp vegetable peeler to take 4 long strips of zest from the lemons. Try not to catch the white pith, because it tastes bitter.
• Shake the cocktail: Pour 1/2 cup Cognac, 1/2 cup simple syrup and 1/3 cup lemon juice into a cocktail shaker and add 2 cups ice cubes. Shake for at least 30 seconds, which is longer than you think.
• Pour and top: Pour the mixture into 4 Champagne flutes so each glass is about two-thirds full. Then fill the glasses with chilled Champagne from the 750 ml bottle.
• Garnish and serve: Drop a long strip of lemon zest into each glass. Serve right away while the drinks are ice cold.

Tools for this recipe

• Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 3-quart saucepan, OXO Steel cocktail shaker, OXO swivel vegetable peeler. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I use a different spirit instead of Cognac?

Gin is the classic swap and makes a brighter, more herbal drink. Ina Garten's version uses VS or VSOP Cognac for a richer flavor, so I would stick with that if you want it sweet and round.

How do I make the simple syrup?

Boil equal parts water and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool fully before shaking, since warm syrup melts the ice too fast.

Can I make French 75 cocktails ahead of a party?

You can mix the Cognac, syrup and lemon juice a few hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. Add the ice and shake right before serving, and top each glass with Champagne at the last second so it stays bubbly.

What if I don't have a cocktail shaker?

A tightly lidded mason jar works well for shaking. Fill it with the ice and liquids, seal it and shake for the full 30 seconds, then strain into the flutes.

What is the most common mistake with this drink?

Shaking too briefly is the big one, because the mix ends up warm and too strong. The other is catching the white pith when you zest the lemon, which adds bitterness to the garnish.