An Elderflower French 75 for a Beautiful Start to September

Hello Friends!

There are some cocktails that simply feel celebratory, and the French 75 has always been one of them.

Made with gin, citrus, and sparkling wine, it has all the brightness of a refreshing cocktail with just enough elegance to make an ordinary evening feel a little more special.

For this version, I added elderflower liqueur for a soft floral note that feels especially lovely as summer begins to ease into September. The result is light, crisp, and beautifully balanced—perfect for happy hour at home, dinner with friends, or simply raising a glass to the end of the week.

AN EASY TWIST ON A CLASSIC

The traditional French 75 is made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. For this version, elderflower liqueur adds both a delicate floral flavor and just enough sweetness that there is no need for additional simple syrup.

I love cocktails like this for entertaining at home because they feel polished without requiring a long ingredient list or complicated technique. A few simple ingredients, a good shake, and a splash of bubbles are really all you need.

INGREDIENTS

Serves 1

1 ounce gin
½ ounce elderflower liqueur, such as St-Germain
½ ounce fresh lemon juice
3 ounces chilled Champagne or Prosecco
Lemon twist, for garnish
Ice, for shaking

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

Step 2
Measure and add 1 ounce of gin.

Step 3
Add ½ ounce of elderflower liqueur.

Step 4
Add ½ ounce of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Step 5
Secure the shaker and shake until the outside feels well chilled.

Step 6
Strain the cocktail into a Champagne flute.

Step 7
Slowly top with 3 ounces of chilled Champagne or Prosecco.

Step 8
Express a strip of lemon peel over the glass to release the citrus oils, then twist the peel and place it over the rim.

Step 9
Serve immediately and enjoy.

RECIPE NOTES

Fresh lemon juice makes a noticeable difference in this cocktail. Its brightness balances the sweetness of the elderflower liqueur and keeps the finished drink crisp.

Choose a dry Champagne or Prosecco rather than a sweet sparkling wine. The elderflower liqueur already provides a gentle sweetness, so a dry bubbly keeps everything beautifully balanced.

I prefer 3 ounces of sparkling wine in this version. It gives the cocktail a softer finish while also creating a lovely proportion in a Champagne flute.

For the garnish, use a vegetable peeler to remove a long strip of lemon peel, avoiding as much of the white pith as possible. Twist the peel around your finger or the handle of a bar spoon for a few seconds before placing it on the rim.