French 75 Cocktail Recipe for Bastille Day
Happy Hour: French 75
Today it's clear blue skies in San Francisco — a relative rarity, considering it's Summer — and the perfect day to get cozy on the patio of a French bistro and some Bastille Day noise. In the past, I've been inclined to settle in with a big beer and some moules frites, but right now I've got a hankering for a French 75.
If you've never had one, a French 75 combines bubbly with the bright flavors of citrus and gin for a slightly sweet but very clean drink. My favorite version comes from San Francisco bar star Jeff Hollinger, who likes to garnish his drink with house-made brandied cherries. Drinking one makes me feel très sophistique, like a true Parisian. Get the recipe.
From The Art of The Bar by Jeff Hollinger & Rob Schwartz
Ingredients
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 ounces gin
Champagne
3 brandied cherries for garnish (see below)
Lemon twist for garnish
Directions
- In an ice-filled pilsner or collins glass, combine the syrup, lemon juice, gin, and stir to mix.
- Fill the glass to the top with Champagne and garnish with cherries and lemon twist.
Makes 1 drink.
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From The Art of The Bar by Jeff Hollinger & Rob Schwartz
Ingredients
6 pounds dark, sweet cherries
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cinnamon sticks
1 1/4 cups brandy
Directions
- Wash and pit the cherries. Combine the sugar, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a large saucepan.
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium low. Add the cherries and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, remove the cinnamon sticks, and stir in the brandy.
- Transfer the cherries to a jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Makes 6 pints.
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