French 95

The French 95, also known as a Bourbon French 75, is a twist on the classic gin cocktail, the French 75.

Where the original shakes together gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, then topped with champagne, the French 95 mixes two citrus juices – lemon and orange – and substitutes gin for bourbon. Served in a champagne glass, the French 95 is the epitome of elegance.

Even if you’re new to home bartending, the French 95 cocktail recipe is manageable and rewarding. It’s a perfect start if you want a drink that’s both classic and a little unexpected.

French 95 lights up the palate with sharp citrus from lemon juice, a subtle sweetness from orange juice, then smoothed out by the warm caramel notes of the bourbon. The champagne offers a wonderful effervescence that not only heightens the drinking experience but also adds a lovely dry and tart quality that works wonderfully with the tartness of the lemon juice.

To understand the origins of the French 95, we first have to look at the history of the French 75.

A common belief is that the French 75 was invented in 1915 in a Paris bar during the First World War. Others say it was  created by English soldiers fighting in France during World War I. What we do know, however, is that it was first recorded as the “French 75” in a cocktail book in 1922 although similar concoctions date back to the 19th century.

The French 95, on the other hand, was invented in the 1970s, a time when bartenders experimented with classic drinks by using different spirit types.

• Hand-Squeeze Your Citrus
  We’ve said it a hundred times but we’ll say it again – always use fresh juice. Fresh lemon juice and orange juice will always taste brighter than store-bought juice.
• Double-Strain
  Use both a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer (such as a tea strainer) to strain your drink, This will give your drink a smooth texture, and ensure that no pulp or ice shards end up in your drink.
• Freeze Your Glass
  Pop your champagne flute in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before mixing to keep your French 95 colder longer.

• French 75
  The original and the inspiration for the French 95, made with gin.
• French 76
  The same as a French 75 but made with vodka instead of gin. Discover our recipe for a French 76.
• French 69
  This variation follows the same recipe as the original French 75 but uses elderflower-infused simple syrup instead of normal simple syrup.
• Use cava or prosecco
  You can substitute champagne for cava or prosecco. Just be sure to choose a dry cava or prosecco that’s not too sweet.
• Leave out orange juice
  Many recipes for a French 95 omit the orange juice, making it more similar to the classic French 75. Personally, we like the taste of two different citrus juices, with orange adding a juicy sweetness that contrasts the lemon juice.

Although our recipe does not include a garnish, here are a couple of ideas if you wish to garnish your French 95:

• Lemon twist
  You can never go wrong with a lemon twist. It looks great and its fresh and bright aromas will liven up the drink.
• Orange twist
  If you want to accentuate the orange notes instead of lemon, express the oils from an orange twist over your champagne flute and drop it in for extra orange aroma.