From the "Soixante-Quinze" to the "French 75"

This classic cocktail is named after a French weapon, the 75 mm field gun. As the first field gun capable of firing up to 28 shells per minute, it played a decisive role in stopping the German advance on Paris during World War I. A symbol of military power and a reminder of French sacrifice on the battlefield, it became a key propaganda tool during the war and soon became known simply as "le soixante-quinze."

According to expert Simon Difford, the first mention of a Soixante-Quinze cocktail appeared in the American press in 1915. A Washington Herald article describes a drink made with gin, grenadine, applejack and lemon juice brought to Broadway by war correspondent E. Alexander Powell.

In 1922, Robert Vermeire gave the drink its first book citation in Cocktails, How to Mix Them, shortening the Soixante-Quinze to simply “75.” He added an illuminating remark: the drink was wildly popular during the war and was “introduced by Henry of Henry’s Bar.” That attribution points to Henry Tépé, who is sometimes confused with Harry McElhone, the famed bartender at the nearby Harry’s Bar. McElhone mentions the French 75 in his ABC of Mixing Cocktails, offering a version that uses absinthe but skips the lemon juice, but he does not claim its creation. Yet the legendary Harry’s Bar, a landmark of Parisian mixology and the birthplace of the Bloody Mary, now stakes its claim to the Soixante-Quinze. It is also possible that McElhone originated the cocktail mentioned as early as 1915 in the American press, a recipe that then evolved over time in the hands of bartenders in other world capitals.

While the French 75 as we know it first appeared in print in a small American booklet published during Prohibition (1927) titled Here’s How, the bartender who popularized the gin, lemon, sugar, and Champagne-based version was Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel. His reputation stemmed as much from his own flair as from the Savoy itself, a spectacular stage for any bartender. The Savoy Cocktail Book, published in 1930, is regarded as one of the era’s masterpieces, filled with witty turns of phrase, art-deco illustrations and no fewer than 750 recipes. "Hits with remarkable precision" was the warning that accompanied the French 75 recipe, giving fair notice to the reader.

Citadelle Original Gin: the perfect partner for an authentic French 75

What better way to mix a textbook French 75 than with the gin named “Best French Gin” at the World Gin Awards and most recently honoured with a Master Medal at the 2025 Gin Masters? Our château gin, Citadelle Original, brings fresh citrus, bright juniper, and a hint of pepper, flavours unlocked by our progressive-infusion technique, that add depth and elegance to this classic.

Developed and patented by our master distiller Alexandre Gabriel, the process fine-tunes maceration time and alcohol strength for each of the gin’s 19 botanicals. That lets every ingredient reach its full flavor potential—especially in a French 75. Here’s our go-to recipe:

French 75

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Citadelle Original
  • 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 oz simple syrup
  • Champagne

Glass: Champagne flute

Method

  1. Add Citadelle Original, lemon juice and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice
  2. Shake vigorously
  3. Strain the liquid into a Champagne flute
  4. Top with Champagne or the sparkling wine of your choice
  5. Garnish with a lemon twist

That’s it. Cheers!