Soixante Quinze

I fell in love with the french 75 last night.

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French 75
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Gin
Standard drinkware:	flute or Collins glass
Commonly used ingredients:	Two parts gin 1 1/2 Ounces of Simple syrup juice of half a lemon Champagne
Preparation:	Pour a 1 count of gin, topped with a half flute of sparkling wine or champagne, add sugar (it will fizz up so make sure the flute isn't full yet) then top off with more sparkling wine. Alternate: Combine sugar, lemon juice, and gin in a shaker full of ice. Shake well, then pour into a tall glass and top with champagne. (If possible, ice the glass ahead of time.)
Notes:	cherry or orange slice

French 75 is a cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. There is some controversy over whether the cocktail was originally made with gin or with cognac and champagne. If Vodka is substituted for the gin it may be referred to as a French 76.

The drink was originally concocted by the Franco-American World War I flying ace Raoul Lufbery who was part of Escadrille Américaine air fighting unit. Legend has it that he liked champagne, but wanted something with more of a kick to it, so he mixed it with cognac which was readily available. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm howitzer artillery piece, also called a "75 Cocktail", or "Soixante Quinze" in French. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club.

Next time you feel like having a truly refreshing libation, try a French 75. It's light and tangy with a nice sparkle from the bubbles. The gin gives it a nice kick and adds a whole other flavor profile from the juniper. I'm hooked and you will be too.