We always say that Mr SYLTBAR Premium Prosecco is best when enjoyed on its own, but every once in a while, a tasty Prosecco cocktail hits the spot.
Over the years, there have been quite a few iconic Prosecco cocktails created, each with its own unique history and appreciation. One of the most famous of these drinks is French 75, a boozy cocktail that can be found on classic cocktail menus just as frequently as some of the most signature drinks, such as the Manhattan, Gin Martini, Tommy’s Margarita, Old Fashioned and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few.
What Gin to use to French 75
A French 75 consists of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and Champagne or Prosecco. Different bars and bartenders will vary in which type of sparkling wine they prefer to use. The original cocktail is said to have used champagne, but of course, we prefer to use Prosecco! For the gin, we always use our favorite: Monkey 47 Gin, made in Germany’s Black Forest. It’s so smooth because of its 47 ingredients, all handpicked botanicals.
A SYLTBAR Prosecco French 74
The typical French 75 recipe goes like this:
- 1 ounce gin
- ½ ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 ounces of Prosecco
Instructions: Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice into a cocktail shaker and give it a good shake until it’s properly chilled. Strain into a glass and top with Prosecco. Garnish with a lemon twist.
How to serve a French 75
Some say the proper glassware for a French 75 is a champagne flute or a coupe, while others insist on it being served in a Collins glass. This is mainly because of the supposed history behind the drink, which is actually pretty interesting. The first French 75 was poured in 1915, during World War I, at a bar in Paris called the New York Bar, later changed to Harry’s New York Bar. It’s said that the barman who created the drink, Harry MacElhone, drew inspiration from the recipe for a Tom Collins, which is a drink made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup or sugar, and soda water, and that would be why some serve it in a Collins glass. MacElhone simply used Champagne instead of soda and the French 75 was born.
What does a French 75 taste like?
The drink got its name French 75 because the combination of gin and Champagne was described as having such a “kick” that it was similar to being hit by the 75mm gun used by the French during the war, which was incredibly powerful. Today, if you were to visit Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, the drink swaps out the sugar for a few drops of Absinthe (according to the bar’s website), which we would bet makes it pack even more of a punch!
We usually steer clear of mixed drinks because of all the extra calories and sugar. After all, the best part about Mr is that he has only 49 calories per 6 ounce glass by glucose level, and absolutely no added sugar, but like we said… Every once in a while, and in moderation, there is nothing wrong with indulging in a cocktail or two! Just be mindful of the added ingredients.
How much calories are in a French 75?
Keep in mind that an ounce of gin is about 70-75 calories, and be cautious about how much simple syrup you are using when making the cocktail. Even though the traditional recipe calls for ½ ounce, you could decrease the amount — or even better, use liquid stevia. You don’t have to worry about the fresh lemon juice at all; that barely even counts at all for calories or sugar.
When you use Mr SYLTBAR as the Prosecco for your French 75, you’re probably looking at a drink that is around 100 calories, maybe a little more, which is not bad at all! When the cocktail craving hits, a SYLTBAR French 75 is a great choice!
Shop for the best Prosecco to make a French 75 at our online store, or look for us in your local retail shops.
Photo by Avonne Stalling on Pexels
Photo by Lucas Albino from Pexels
