Sharkbait’s Cocktail of the Week: The French 75

Monday was not a good day for the people of Paris. It really can’t be when history is literally going up in flames. For Parisians, Notre-Dame is more than just a cathedral. It performs its function as a house of worship quite well, but it serves as a monument to the city and to medieval architecture and craftsmanship.

Luck was definitely on the side of the cathedral. Thankfully, the damage was limited to the roof, and the spire. The three rose shaped stained glass windows, and many priceless relics were spared. Copper statues that were mounted on the spire had been removed for restoration only days before the accident. Although I’ve been to Notre-Dame before, I look forward to going back to Paris and visiting once the cathedral is re-opened.

Obviously, the fire did provide the inspiration for this week. I started researching French cocktails, and realized I had a classic cocktail in one of my cocktail books already. That would be the legendary French 75.  This cocktail is named after a field artillery piece used by the French during the First World War. Invented at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, the name comes from the gin/champagne combination. Supposedly the kick is so potent, it is comparable with being hit by an artillery shell.

For the recipe, we’re going back to the Please Don’t Tell Cocktail Book:

1 oz. Tanqueray gin

.5 oz Lemon juice

.5 oz Simple syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe. Top with 1 oz. Moet Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Having never been under fire, I can’t say for sure if this tastes like getting blasted with a field gun, but it is potent. It is also incredibly drinkable. The bubbles from the champagne are muted by the gin and the lemon juice, and the spicy tones of the gin are in turn softened by the syrup and the lemon. The end result is a citrus forward crisp sipping cocktail, suitable for the spring and summer months. Best enjoyed along the Seine.

À votre santé

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