Gin and champagne belong together. The botanical complexity of gin - juniper, citrus peel, coriander, whatever else the distiller's thrown in - cuts right through champagne's sweetness and lifts everything with bubbles. The classic combination is the French 75, but once you understand why these two work, the variations pretty much write themselves.
Here are six gin and champagne cocktails worth making, from a 100-year-old classic to a few modern takes worth knowing.
French 75 - The Original Gin and Champagne Cocktail
The French 75 dates to World War I, supposedly named after the French 75mm field gun for its kick. It's a genuinely great cocktail: bright, cold, slightly tart, and very easy to drink. If you've never made a gin and champagne cocktail before, start here.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz gin
- ½ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 3 oz Champagne or dry sparkling wine
- Lemon twist to garnish
Instructions: Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute. Top with cold Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist.
Notes: The ratio of gin to citrus to sweet is the classic sour format. Don't skip the fresh lemon - bottled juice doesn't have the brightness you need here. For gin, something London Dry works well; Hendrick's or a more floral gin gives a slightly different character that also works.
French 75 Variations
The French 75 is endlessly adaptable. A few worth trying:
- Elderflower French 75: Replace simple syrup with St-Germain elderflower liqueur. Add a cucumber ribbon as the garnish. Lighter and more floral - great for summer.
- Cucumber Gin Champagne Cocktail: Muddle 3-4 cucumber slices with the gin before shaking. Strain carefully. The cucumber freshness plays well against champagne's yeast character.
- Honey Gin Royale: Replace simple syrup with honey syrup (1:1 honey and warm water). Adds a rounder, less sharp sweetness. Add a splash of fresh grapefruit juice if you want more complexity.
Negroni Sbagliato with Champagne
The Negroni Sbagliato ("mistaken Negroni") traditionally swaps gin for sparkling wine. This version goes the other direction - it keeps the gin and adds champagne on top for a lighter, bubblier take on the original bitter Italian cocktail.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz gin
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 1½ oz Champagne
- Orange twist
Instructions: Build gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Stir briefly. Float Champagne on top. Garnish with an orange twist.
Gin and Champagne Martini
This is a dirty little cheat of a drink - a classic martini ratio with a champagne float that adds sparkle and lightens the whole thing. It looks elegant and takes about 90 seconds to make.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- ½ oz dry vermouth
- 1 oz Champagne
- Lemon twist or olive
Instructions: Stir gin and vermouth with ice until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Pour Champagne gently over the back of a bar spoon to float it on top. Garnish and serve immediately.
Southside Royale
The Southside is basically a gin mojito - mint, lime, and simple syrup with gin instead of rum. Add champagne and you've got a Southside Royale: refreshing, minty, and light enough for warm weather or a long afternoon.
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz gin
- ¾ oz fresh lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2 oz Champagne
- Mint sprig to garnish
Instructions: Gently muddle mint with simple syrup in the bottom of a shaker - press, don't shred. Add gin, lime juice, and ice. Shake and double-strain into a chilled coupe or flute. Top with Champagne. Garnish with fresh mint.
Tips for Making Gin and Champagne Cocktails
- You don't need expensive Champagne. A dry Cava, Prosecco Brut, or Crémant works well in every recipe above. Save the good stuff for drinking straight.
- Chill everything. Warm Champagne goes flat fast. Keep the bottle and your glassware cold.
- Add the Champagne last. Always build the other components first, then top with sparkling wine. Adding it earlier kills the bubbles.
- Use fresh citrus. Bottled lemon juice turns these cocktails flat and metallic. Fresh is the difference between good and very good.
- Choose the right gin. London Dry gins (Beefeater, Tanqueray, Bombay Sapphire) are reliable workhorses. Floral or citrus-forward gins (Hendrick's, The Botanist, Monkey 47) can add interesting nuance but are less forgiving in the French 75.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the classic gin and champagne cocktail?
The French 75 is the classic gin and champagne cocktail. It combines gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne in a flute. The recipe dates to the 1920s and remains one of the most popular gin cocktails made. It's named after the French 75mm artillery gun.
What gin goes best with champagne?
London Dry gins work best because their clean, juniper-forward character doesn't compete with champagne's complexity. Tanqueray, Beefeater, and Bombay Sapphire are solid choices. Floral gins like Hendrick's also work well, particularly in the elderflower variation of the French 75.
Can you use Prosecco instead of Champagne in a French 75?
Yes - Prosecco, Cava, or any dry sparkling wine works well in a French 75 and in most gin and champagne cocktails. The key word is dry. A Brut or Extra Brut style keeps the cocktail balanced. Avoid sweet sparkling wines, which tip the whole drink toward dessert.
How many calories are in a French 75?
A standard French 75 contains approximately 180-200 calories, depending on pour sizes. The gin and Champagne contribute most of the calories; simple syrup adds about 25 calories. Using a lighter sparkling wine like Prosecco Brut brings the total down slightly.
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