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Cheers! The "French 75" and its kick

Lester Graham
/
Michigan Radio

Listen to Tammy talk about the French 75.

French 75

1-1/2 oz gin (Detroit City Distillery Railroad gin)

1/2 oz lemon juice

3/4 oz simple syrup

2  oz champagne/sparkling wine

Garnish: lemon twist

Shake first three ingredients with ice, strain into champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish.

The debate about raising the speed limit on Michigan freeways to 75 miles per hour made Tammy Coxen of Tammy’s Tastings think of the cocktail called the French 75. 

However, the French 75 is actually named after a World War I artillery piece, the French 75 mm field gun.

“The gin is thought to give the drink a ‘kick’ like a 75 mm field gun,” Coxen explained.

The drink was introduced in 1915, but over the years the origin of its name became confused. Some bartenders decided if it’s French, it must call for cognac.

“If you got to New Orleans, they’re going to make it with cognac and that’s fine too,”Coxensaid. “The original recipes do call for gin.”

The French 75.
Credit Lester Graham / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio
The French 75.

Coxen usedDetroit City Distillery’s Railroad gin.

Here's howDCDdescribes its gin:

"Our London-style gin meets at the crossroads of alchemy and botany with the finest juniper, cardamom, citrus and spice."

Coxen says this cocktail is pretty easy to make and pretty forgiving if you get the proportions off a little.

Cheers! 

Copyright 2021 Michigan Radio. To see more, visit Michigan Radio.

Lester Graham is with Michigan Watch, the investigative unit of Michigan Radio.