The Best Gin for a French 75 [Expert Picks]
Written by Andrew L. | Updated May 2026
The French 75 cocktail draws its name from the rapid-firing 75-millimeter field gun used by the French during World War One. Despite its intimidating name, the drink is a delightful mix of gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, and Champagne, offering a much friendlier experience than one might expect.
As with many classic cocktails, the origins of the French 75 are shrouded in mystery and subject to debate. According to drinks historian David Wondrich, the recipe first surfaced in 1927, during the Prohibition era, within the pages of a book titled "Here's How," published by a New York humor magazine. However, it was in 1930 that the cocktail gained enduring fame when it was included in Harry Craddock's "The Savoy Cocktail Book." This inclusion solidified the French 75's popularity, making it a beloved choice in bars and households worldwide. In this blog post, we will be sharing a recipe for making French 75, along with some bottle recommendations available in our bottle shop to help you choose the perfect gin and champagne for your cocktail.
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French 75 Recipe
The Whiskey Sour stands as a timeless testament to the art of mixology, blending spirits, citrus, and sugar in perfect harmony. Its roots reach back over one and a half centuries, possibly originating during Abraham Lincoln's time. The earliest documented recipe appears in Jerry Thomas's iconic book, The Bar-Tenders Guide, dating back to around 1862. To honor this classic, we're sharing a tried-and-true Whiskey Sour recipe. Plus, we'll highlight our top whiskey picks from our bottle shop, ensuring you choose the ideal whiskey to elevate your cocktail experience this Spring.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- Sparkling Wine
- Ice
- Garnish: lemon twist
Directions
- In a shaker, combine the gin, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup.
- Add ice to the shaker and shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into a champagne flute.
- Top off the glass with champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
- Enjoy your delicious French 75!
How To Find The Best Gins for Any Cocktail
Finding the perfect gin for the gin lover in your life should be a fun adventure. One of the best ways to do this is by joining the Gin of The Month Club from Taster's Club.
Expertly curated bottles every month
Each month, members receive a carefully curated bottle of premium gin, complete with detailed tasting notes and fascinating insights into the distillery's heritage and production methods.
This subscription service offers members the chance to explore an incredible variety of gins, from classic London dry styles to unique, botanical-forward craft gins.
Various options to choose from
Plus, Taster’s Club offers popular 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month prepaid subscriptions. Perfect for gifting or exploring new flavors on your own terms.If you're a gin enthusiast or just starting your gin journey, Taster’s Club lets you discover exciting new and expertly selected gins at your own pace.
A Gin Adventure For Every Level
A Taster’s Club Gin Subscription transforms any occasion into an extended celebration, delivering carefully chosen gin every month.
A Gin Adventure For Every Level
A Taster’s Club Gin Subscription transforms any occasion into an extended celebration, delivering carefully chosen gin every month.
The Best Gin for an Amazing French 75
1. Sipsmith London Dry Gin
Sipsmith London Dry Gin was created in 2009 by a team determined to bring small-batch distillation back to London. It’s produced in copper pot stills and follows a carefully honed recipe using classic botanicals. Ideal for any gin enthusiast because of its bold profile that also works well in other cocktails and to sip. This is also one of our top London Dry Gins we recommend, too.
Why It’s Perfect for a French 75
The beautiful lemon zest and earthy coriander profile on the nose and palate provide an excellent backbone for the added lemon and sugar, for a perfect enhancement. The result is a truly classic French 75 that’s crisp and composed, without any surprises, and consistent for any guest.
Region: United Kingdom | ABV: 41.60% | 750ml
Purchase Sipsmith London Dry Gin
2. Eden Mill Golf Gin
This is not only an elegant pick for a French 75, but it’s also perfect for that golf lover in your life, as it was made with the love of the game in mind. It’s distilled with a diverse range of botanicals that are gathered from the famous Old Course, which include gorse, heather, lavender, and kombu seaweed gathered along the Fife coast.
Why It’s Perfect for a French 75
Golf Gin is another amazing choice for a classic French 75 if you’re looking for a subtle coastal and grassy notes. That Fife kombu seaweed makes the lemon burst on the nose and palate, while also adding a crisp depth that sharpens this cocktail. You’ll feel like you’re sipping right by the golf course.
Region: Scotland | ABV: 42.0% | 750ml
Purchase Eden Mill Golf Gin
3. New Riff Bourbon Barreled Kentucky Wild Gin
We chose this gin for the bourbon lovers who want a bit more diversity in their French 75 sipping experience. This bottle uses a diverse mix of 12 botanicals, including wild juniper, American spicebush, and a dash of goldenrod, which is the state flower of Kentucky! Finally, a bit of rye is added to enrich it, like in bourbon, and it rests for five to seven months in freshly emptied bourbon barrels. An excellent choice for that whiskey lover in your life.
Why It’s Perfect for a French 75
The time spent resting in bourbon barrels gives the gin a golden hue and a layer of vanilla-oak warmth that turns the cocktail richer than a classic gin, like Sipsmith. The rye creates new layers that blend very well with the lemon and crisp sparkling bubbles. It’s definitely an excellent choice if you’re looking for more depth and exploratory notes in this cocktail.
Region: United States | ABV: 47.0% | 750ml
Purchase New Riff Bourbon Barreled Kentucky Wild Gin
4. James Gin London Drizzle
James Gin’s London Drizzle Gin offers a fun play on England’s iconic rainy days and tea culture. It’s crafted in small batches using premium botanicals, including juniper, lemon peel, and black tea, with a touch of locally sourced honey. The gin’s unique charm lies in its balance of traditional dry juniper flavors.
Why It’s Perfect for a French 75
London Drizzle turns the French 75 into an earthy and savory sip, versus some of the more crisper Gins we’ve listed. The mineral notes add an unexpected depth that complements the lemon and Champagne. The palate and finish of this gin present playful ginger and pepper for a warming finish. James Gin London Drizzle is a unique experience for when you want to surprise and delight guests.
Region: United Kingdom | ABV: 40.0% | 750ml
Purchase James Gin London Drizzle
5. Castle & Key Roots of Ruin Gin
This amazing gin starts with the Old Taylor Distillery’s unique rye whiskey mash bill and the mineral-rich water of its key-shaped spring. From there, it's vapor-distilled with eight local botanicals that include chamomile, ginger, and rosemary.
Why It’s Perfect for a French 75
Castle & Key is another bourbon-lover's dream for a French 75 cocktail that wants a very robust sip. This is a higher proof gin than others in this list, and it cuts through the lemon, sugar, and Champagne in a way that’ll elevate the cocktail, without overpowering it.
Region: United States | ABV: 53.0% | 750ml
Purchase Castle & Key Roots of Ruin GinDiscover the Other Best Spirits Guides & Bottles Recommendations
Make Every Month a Gin Adventure
Take your world of gin to the next level with the Gin Club. With Taster’s Club, you can give a gin club experience and a distinctive tasting experience that features meticulously chosen selections such as London Dry style, New World, barrel-aged, and more.
Make Every Month a Gin Adventure
Take your world of gin to the next level with the Gin Club. With Taster’s Club, you can give a gin club experience and a distinctive tasting experience that features meticulously chosen selections such as London Dry style, New World, barrel-aged, and more.
