Oh my friends the heat of summer is truly upon us. Well, as long as you share my position in the Northern Hemisphere it is! I know you are in need of a certain refreshing and restoring imbibement and you are in luck for I have just the thing! A tippler known as the French 75!
You will need a tall glass, and in it you will place:
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 oz simple syrup
- 2 pz Gin*
Now fill the remainder of the glass with ice, and top it with Champagne.
The French 75 supposedly receives its name from the French 75mm Field gun. The drink hits with the same force as the shell fired from that artillery piece! Well, that is what they say, at least...
There is some discussion, polite of course, as to whether the drink uses Gin or Cognac as its base spirit. The thought being the drink cannot claim to be French without the Cognac. However, this ignores the Gallic origins of both the Champagne and the artillery piece the drink was supposedly named after! Try both, if you have a mind to, and decide for yourself.
You might have also noticed that I have changed the name of this piece from "Cocktail of the Week" as yours truly has been very occupied of late. While I shall endeavor to provide you with beverages in a timely fashion, I do not want to leave a false impression of a schedule!
Adieu until next time, mes amis!