Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled champagne glass. French 75 is a cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. French 75 drink with its current name and recipe developed over the 1920s, though similar drinks date to the 19th century. In the 19th century, the champagne cup was a popular cocktail, consisting of champagne, lemon juice, sugar, and ice.
Gin was sometimes added, yielding a drink much like the French 75. The recipe took its now-classic form and “French 75” name in Here’s How, by Judge Jr. The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club in New York. A fanciful alternative story of the invention of the French 75 was related by humorist Jean Shepherd on November 17, 1969, wherein he credits Gervais Raoul Lufbery as the inventor.
The mixture, as related by Shepherd, is champagne and cognac on ice with perhaps a twist of lemon. The Canon de 75 modèle 1897 is the source of the name of the cocktail. The Canon de 75 modèle 1897 is still used in France on ceremonial occasions. The recipe of the French 75 is very similar to one of the most popular cocktails, the Tom Collins, with champagne replacing carbonated water.