French 75: The WWI Cocktail That Hits Like a Cannon

The French 75, a champagne cocktail, has a surprising history. Its name comes from a brutal World War I cannon, but before it was a drink, “French 75” was slang. This cocktail’s story features Parisian bars, American expats, and a recipe that took years to solidify, becoming one of the most popular classic cocktails. But before the drink became a brunch staple, it was battlefield slang. And its earliest versions? Nothing like what you’re sipping today.

In this episode, we unpack the twisted origin of the French 75 cocktail—starting in the trenches, moving through Parisian expat bars, and ending with a drink that still hits like a shell. We’ll make two historical recipes: the original 1915 “Soixante-Quinze” (gin, applejack, grenadine) and the 1927 Judge Jr. version that gave us the modern French 75.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode
✔️ The brutal WWI artillery gun that inspired the cocktail’s name
✔️ Why “French 75” started as slang for any drink that hit hard
✔️ The difference between the 1915 and 1927 recipes
✔️ How American expats and Paris bars helped shape the modern drink
✔️ Why Prohibition-era gin mattered—and which modern gin works best
✔️ How Champagne changed the game (and how to pick a good substitute)

Recipes
1915 Soixante-Quinze
(Estimated from The Washington Herald report)
1 oz Beefeater gin
1 oz Laird’s Bonded Apple Brandy
1 oz real grenadine (Liquid Alchemist or homemade)
¼ oz fresh lemon juice
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe.

1927 French 75
Adapted from Here’s How! by Judge Jr.
3 oz Beefeater gin
1.5 oz fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
Top with Veuve Clicquot Champagne (or dry Cava/Crémant)
Shake gin, lemon juice, and sugar with cracked ice. Strain into a tall glass, add one large ice cube, and top with chilled Champagne.

Gear & Ingredients Used in This Episode
🔗 Liquid Alchemist Grenadine Syrup: https://amzn.to/4nXhexl
🔗 Silver Mint Julep Cup: https://amzn.to/40lgfg7
🔗 Highball Glass Set 16oz: https://amzn.to/44IIGGc
🔗 The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails: https://amzn.to/44CrFgG
🔗 Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition: https://amzn.to/44isjBc
These links support the channel at no extra cost to you. Cheers!

Time Stamps
0:00 – The Artillery That Named a Cocktail
1:17 – What’s in a name? “French 75”
2:30 – French 75’s early years and evolution
5:12 – 1915 Soixante-Quinze Recipe (Gin, Applejack, Grenadine)
7:32 – Tasting the early 75
8:06 – 1927 French 75 Recipe (Gin, Lemon, Sugar, Champagne)
10:56 – Tasting the refined 75
11:31 – Wrap-Up & Legacy of the French 75

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