French 76

This French 76 recipe is effervescent with a citrus zing! It’s a vodka spin on the classic French 75 cocktail that’s just as fun.

The French 75 is one of our favorite cocktails, so it’s high time we’ve discovered its vodka-based cousin. Meet the French 76! This classy cocktail is just as sophisticated as its cousin drink, using vodka instead of the traditional gin. It’s got a light, bright flavor and effervescent bubbles: ideal for any time you need a festive signature drink. Here’s how to make it!

What is a French 76 cocktail?

The French 76 is spin on the classic French 75 cocktail using vodka instead of gin, mixed with lemon juice and champagne. Most sources say the French 75 was invented in 1915 at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, and got this name because it was as powerful as a French 75mm field gun. The French 76 came along later, and simply substitutes vodka for the classic gin. The ingredients in a French 76 are:

• Vodka
• Lemon juice
• Simple syrup
• Champagne, Prosecco or other sparkling wine

To make a French 76, shake the vodka, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, then strain into a flute and top with champagne. Many champagne cocktails are built in the glass and don’t require a cocktail shaker, but this drink is classically shaken before adding bubbles.

For the garnish

The garnish for a classic French 75 is a lemon twist. You can use this for a French 76, but this drink is also commonly served with a cocktail cherry in the bottom of the glass. We weren’t able to find the origin for this trend, but it’s a common styling for this vodka drink.

Sparkling wine: Champagne vs Prosecco

The French 76 is great with any type of sparkling wine. Typically a French 75 is made with champagne, but that’s because it was the sparkling wine that was available when the drink was invented in 1915. These days, you can find great bottles of Italian Prosecco that are much less expensive than French Champagne: because the manufacturing process for Prosecco is easier. Here’s the difference between champagne vs Prosecco:

• Champagne: French sparkling wine (most expensive choice). It tastes bubbly and fruity, with undertones of almond and orange.
• Prosecco: Italian sparkling wine. It’s a little sweeter than champagne: fruity and flowery, with notes of apple, pear and lemon.
• Cava: Spanish sparkling wine. It has more citrus notes, and is a little more savory and less fruity.

Making the French 76 cocktail for a party

This French 76 recipe is great for entertaining: but when you’re having a party, you don’t want to shake up each drink individually. There are a few ways to make multiple drinks at once! Here are some options:

• Shake 4 drinks in a single cocktail shaker. A cocktail shaker is 16 fluid ounces, so there’s plenty of space for shaking up 4 drinks at a time.
• Make 8 servings in advance: In a pitcher, stir together 1 ½ cups vodka, ¾ cup lemon juice, and ½ cup simple syrup and refrigerate until serving (or stir with 1 handful of ice, then discard the ice). When serving, add 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) vodka mixture to each glass with 3 ounces champagne.

More champagne cocktails

Love bubbles? Here are a few more champagne cocktails classically made with sparkling wine:

• Try the Classic Champagne Cocktail
• Try a French 75 or French 77 (with St Germain elderflower liqueur)
• Brunch with a Mimosa or Bellini
• Go for a Negroni Sbagliato (Negroni with bubbles) or fancy Kir Royale
• Enjoy for the classic Aperol Spritz
• Add beer for a Black Velvet
• Opt for a big bowl of Champagne Punch

01

The Classic Champagne Cocktail

02

Kir Royale

03

French 75 Cocktail

04

Negroni Sbagliato

Print