Down the Hatch: The French 75 is a Classic Cocktail with Firepower, says Mixologist Rick Turner

<p>Are you ready for a drink with some firepower?

If you’re too nervous, just answer “no,” take another sip of your designer latte, and go about your day.

But If you’re still reeling from last night for no good reason other than it was just last night, then this one has your name on it.
It’s called the French 75, but don’t pass judgment yet, pal, because this drink has an explosive history. It’s named for one of the most influential field weapons of World War I and was one of the mainstays for American bunkers throughout Europe. (The “75” in the name comes from the size of the round the device fires, 75 mm.) The weapon was extremely smooth, thanks to a revolutionary recoil system; it was so effective that it remained in the French arsenal until the early 1940s.

The French 75 drink mimics its namesake:  remarkably smooth and remarkably effective. It’s amazing that anyone shot straight after a couple of these. Though the weapon was introduced in 1897,  the jury is still out on when the French 75 cocktail was invented, or whether it was originally made with gin or cognac. One thing’s for sure: the Allies were knockin’ these babies back in 1914.
2 oz. gin
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
brut champagne
Place the gin, lemon juice and syrup in a mixing tin and shake. Strain in to a champagne flute or an iced Collins glass and finish with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and a cherry.

Rick Turner is a Certified Specialist in Spirits  (Society of Wine Educators) and a Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers). He writes about cocktails for EscapeHatchDallas. In his spare time, Turner is the general manager of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas.