French 76
Vodka, lemon, sugar and Champagne. The French 75 with vodka — a 1980s variation that is cleaner and lighter than the gin original, and the one to make for people who do not like gin.
Built to the standard modern spec; not yet tested in our kitchen. How we test.
The recipe.
Scaling adjusts quantities only. Prepare shaken drinks in individual portions.
Let’s make a good drink.
Chill a flute or coupe.
Add the vodka, lemon juice and syrup to a shaker, fill with ice, and shake for 8 seconds.
Strain into the chilled glass.
Top with cold Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
A thoughtful finish
- A clean vodka; there is nowhere for a harsh one to hide.
- Fresh lemon is the drink; bottled juice makes it a wine spritzer.
- Brut wine, gently poured.
Common mistakes
- Flavoured vodka plus syrup; the drink becomes sweet.
- Shaking the wine.
- Too little lemon; with vodka's neutrality the acid is the structure.
A few good questions.
What is the difference between a French 76 and a French 75?
Vodka for gin. The 76 is lighter and cleaner; the 75 has juniper.
Why 76?
One more than 75 — a joke, not a gun.
Can I use prosecco?
Yes, a dry one. The drink is forgiving of the wine as long as it is cold and not sweet.
Can I make a pitcher?
Mix vodka, lemon and syrup ahead and chill; add wine to each glass as you serve.
Variations
- French 75 — Gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne.
- French 125 — Cognac in place of gin.
- Vodka Sour — Vodka, lemon and sugar.
- Mimosa — Champagne and orange juice.
Where it comes from
c. 1980s · United States
Contested. More than one origin is claimed for this drink. We show the competing accounts rather than pick one.
The French 76 is the French 75 with vodka in place of gin — a swap made in the vodka-happy 1980s, when every gin drink got a vodka twin, and named by adding one to the gun. It has no inventor. It is a lighter, more neutral Champagne sour in which the lemon and the wine do all the talking, and it is a reasonable choice for a party where gin has detractors. The sugar can be a little lower than in the 75, because there is no juniper to balance.
Sources
- Difford's Guide, French 76, 2015 (reference)
- Gary Regan, The Joy of Mixology, 2003 (book)
- David Wondrich, Imbibe!, 2015 (book)
Strength. About 1.27 US standard drinks at an estimated 12.2% ABV, estimated from the ingredients and technique, not measured. What that means.
A little character in every sip.
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