The French 75 is a sparkling cocktail that makes every occasion more festive and fun. So, it comes as no surprise that you’ll see it at brunches, evening parties, cocktail parties, family gatherings, pool parties, or any other fancy occasion. The simple ingredients and sophisticated flavor are some things that make this cocktail stand out.
The classic cocktail has a few variations that are also equally if not better tasting than the original one. You can surely try making a few of these at the pool party you host for your friends and family. These French 75 cocktail variation recipes are easy to make and taste absolutely delicious!
6 French 75 Cocktail Variation Recipes
- French 125
- French 95
- Air Mail
- West 75th
- Romancing The Stone
- French Harvest
French 125
The crowd-pleaser French 125 is a twist on the classic French 75. This one uses brandy instead of gin as its base spirit. When it comes to taste, the French 125 is sweet, sour, smooth, and is packed with flavors. The champagne used in this cocktail gives it refreshing carbonation which adds a great texture. Once you make this cocktail, you’ll understand the hype around it. So get the ingredients and make a glass of French 125 for yourself first!
Ingredients
- 4 ounces of champagne
- 2 ounces of gin
- ¼ ounce of simple syrup
- ½ ounce of lemon juice
- A lemon twist for garnish
How To Make French 125
- Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice, gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice, and give it a good shake.
- Strain this into a chilled champagne flute glass, and top it off with champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and your cocktail is ready.
Also Read: 7 Easy Cocktails To Make At Home
French 95
French 95 is the second cocktail on the list which is a popular variation of the classic French 75. The bourbon whiskey used in this cocktail gives it a strong taste. The best part about this cocktail is that it can be made in large batches. The recipe given below serves one, but you can alter the measurements according to the number of people coming over for the pool party. If you top a French 95 cocktail with ice, it tastes even better, making you crave more with each sip you take.
Ingredients
- Champagne to top
- 1 ounce of bourbon whiskey
- ¾ ounce of simple syrup
- ¾ ounce of orange juice
- ½ ounce of lemon juice
How To Make French 95
- Add all the ingredients except champagne in a cocktail shaker, and shake it well.
- Strain this into a cocktail glass over crushed ice.
- Top it off with champagne, and serve.
Also Read: Beer Cocktails That You Can Enjoy At Home
Air Mail
Air Mail is a champagne-topped rum cocktail known to be an unconventional classic cocktail. It’s one of the popular variations of the iconic French 75 cocktail made with gold rum as its base ingredient. The Air Mail cocktail has been a popular cocktail from the 1940s through the 1950s. After it was published in the 1949 edition of Handbook for Hosts, it gained even more popularity than before. Make sure you don’t miss out on this delicious cocktail and give it a try.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces of gold rum
- 1 ounce of champagne
- 1 dash of Angostura bitters
- ¾ ounce of lime juice
- 1 ounce of honey syrup
- 2-3 mint leaves for garnish
How To Make Air Mail
- Add all of the ingredients except the champagne into a cocktail shaker, add some ice cubes, and shake vigorously.
- Strain this into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with mint leaves, and your cocktail is ready.
Also Read: 7 3-Ingredient Vodka Cocktails That You Can Make
West 75th
The West 75th cocktail is the love child of the French 75 and the New York Sour. This cocktail takes brandy and tops it off with sparkling red wine along with a mixture of the other ingredients. West 75th is one of those cocktails that you can enjoy at any time of the day, week, or month. So if you’re hosting a pool party, make sure you try this variation recipe of the French 75 cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce of brandy
- 3 ounces of sparkling red wine
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- ½ ounce of lemon juice
- ¼ ounce of raspberry syrup
- Lemon twist for garnish
How To Make West 75th
- Add the sparkling wine, orange bitters, raspberry syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker, and shake it for 30 good seconds.
- Double strain this into a chilled cocktail glass, and slowly top it with brandy to give it a layered effect.
- Garnish this drink with the lemon twist, and your cocktail is ready to be served.
Also Read: 8 Best Daiquiri Cocktail Recipes
Romancing The Stone
Romancing The Stone cocktail is the riff on the classic French 75 cocktail. This one has fruity and floral flavors which give it an air of sophistication. Blume Marillen Apricot Eau-de-Vie is the star ingredient of this cocktail. It’s a clear apricot-flavored brandy that is rich in flavor and is known to embody the apricot orchard in full bloom. This is the ingredient that makes Romancing The Stone cocktail stand out of the lot.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce Blume Marillen apricot eau-de-vie
- Chilled sparkling wine to top
- 1 dash of Peychaud’s bitters
- ½ ounce of lemon juice
- ½ ounce of honey syrup
How To Make Romancing The Stone
- Add all of the ingredients mentioned above, minus the sparkling wine, in a cocktail shaker, and gently shake it.
- Strain this into a cocktail glass, and top it off with chilled sparkling wine.
Also Read: 10 Cognac Cocktails To Try In Mumbai Winters
French Harvest
The French Harvest cocktail is the one that’s the closest to the French 75 in terms of taste. It has the sparkling bubbles and apple flavor from the sparkling cider. This flavor is balanced perfectly with the addition of simple syrup and citrus. French Harvest is going to remind you of fall and every sip of this cocktail just tastes absolutely divine.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ ounces of your favorite silver dry gin
- Dry sparkling cider to top
- ¾ ounce of fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce of simple syrup
- A lemon twist for garnish
How To Make French Harvest
- Add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice into a shaker, add some ice cubes, and shake until it’s all well-chilled and blended.
- Double strain this into a cocktail glass, and top with the sparkling cider.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.
Also Read: 7 Best Sparkling Wine Cocktail Recipes
Summing Up
If you want everyone to enjoy the pool party and have a good time, these variations of the classic French 75 cocktail mentioned above will definitely help. They’re easy to make, have a simple ingredients list, can be made in large batches, and are loved by all. Plus, you get a variety of cocktail options to choose from. So don’t keep waiting, gather these ingredients and make some of these cocktails for your next pool party.
FAQs
What Does A French 75 Cocktail Taste Like?
The iconic French 75 cocktail is strong, smooth, citrusy, and crisp to taste.
Why Is The Cocktail Called French 75?
The French 75 is known to be named after the French army’s weapon of choice during World War I: the French 75-millimeter light field gun.
Which Cocktail Is Best For Beginners?
If you’re a beginner who wants to try out some delicious cocktails, you may want to try Margarita, Mojito, Long Island Iced Tea, Daiquiri, Manhattan, and Martini.
Is French 75 A Cognac Or Gin Cocktail?
French 75 traditionally is a gin cocktail but it’s also made using cognac. Either of these variations are very popular among the crowds.
What Are The Tastiest Cocktails?
Piña Colada, Mojito, Cosmopolitan, Long Island Iced Tea, White Russian, and Daiquiri are some of the tastiest cocktails that you can order when at a bar.
What Are The 4 Components That Balance A Cocktail?
There are four important components that balance a cocktail. They are spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. Having the right portions of each of these components is essential for any given cocktail.
How Do You Make A Cocktail Taste Better?
If you want to make any cocktail taste better, it’s always advisable to garnish the drink. If not, you can also use a chilled cocktail glass, measure the ingredients according to the given portions, use fresh ice, etc.
What Are The 6 Basic Cocktails?
Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Daiquiri, Martini, Negroni, and Whiskey Sour are the 6 basic cocktails.
