French 75 Variations

9 drinks · Updated October 2026

The French 75 combines gin, lemon juice and sugar topped with Champagne. The name refers to a French field gun; early recipes under that name differed from the now-familiar sparkling version. This page lists the namesake drinks first, then close structural riffs. Alongside the French 75, examples include Airmail and French 95. Related sparkling sours change the base spirit or sweetener while retaining citrus and a sparkling-wine topping. The useful comparison is the role of each ingredient: base spirit, sweetener, aromatic modifier or citrus, rather than the name alone.

The French 75

• French 75

  Classic (Paris, WWI era)

  1.5 oz Gin 0.75 oz Lemon juice 0.5 oz Cane sugar syrup Top Champagne

• Chris Hannah's French 75

  Chris Hannah, Arnaud's French 75 Bar, New Orleans

  1.25 oz Cognac 0.33 oz Lemon juice 0.25 oz Simple syrup 2.25 oz Champagne

• Tom Macy's French 75

  Tom Macy, Clover Club, Brooklyn (2018)

  1 oz Gin 0.5 oz Lemon juice 0.25 oz Simple syrup 0.25 oz Demerara syrup 2.5 oz Champagne

• Sarah Morrissey's French 75

  Sarah Morrissey, Frenchette, New York (2018)

  1.5 oz Gin 1 oz Lemon juice 0.75 oz Cane sugar syrup 2 dashes Orange bitters 2 oz Sparkling wine

• Tim Miner's French 75

  Tim Miner, The Long Island Bar, Brooklyn (2018)

  1 oz Cognac 0.5 oz Lemon juice 0.5 oz Simple syrup Top Champagne

Riffs

• Airmail

  Handbook for Hosts (1949)

  1 oz Aged rum 0.5 oz Lime juice 0.5 oz Honey syrup Top Champagne (about 3 oz)

• French 95

  Classic (bourbon take on the French 75)

  2 oz Bourbon 0.75 oz Lemon juice 0.5 oz Cane sugar syrup Top Champagne

• Sloe Gin Fizz

  Lawton Mackall, Esquire (1941)

  1.5 oz Sloe gin 1 oz Lemon juice 1 tsp Rich simple syrup 4 oz Champagne

• Tigre's Airmail

  William Elliott, Tigre, New York (2024)

  0.5 oz Rhum agricole 0.5 oz Aged rum 0.5 oz Lightly aged rum 0.5 oz Lime juice (scant) 0.5 oz Cane syrup (1:1, scant) 0.75 tsp Lime cordial Champagne, to top