Soixante-quinze: French ’75’ Cocktail

1. I have been looking for
2. … reason to use my VSOP Calvados.
3. This cocktail originated at the front during WWI in France.
4. It was introduced to America by war correspondent Alex Powell.
5. The French 75 Cocktail is a tribute to the
6. 75mm artillery piece that the French fielded in World War I.
7. The French air squadrons in WWI had their drinking rituals.
8. The “75,” was inspired by these flyers returning from battle.
9. Trivia:  The power and efficiency of the French 75mm guns made
10. them well trusted among their crews, which earned them
11. …a particular affection.
12. They were dubbed Mademoiselle Soixante-Quinze (Miss Seventy-five)
13. ….and appear on numerous French propaganda cards.
14. #ParisInJuly

Ingredients:   Gin  – Calvados brandy –  grenadine or absinthe (or both)

• 60 ml   VSOP Calvados
• 30 ml   gin
• 1/2 TB  (7.5 ml)  grenadine  (no absinthe in my bar…)
• 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice
• Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice
• Shake, strain into chilled cocktail glass with lime wedge
• Garnish: lemon twist
• Glass:  elegant stemmed liquer glass (small)

Conclusion:

1. Taste:
2. I would NEVER  serve this cocktail as an aperitif….
3. …it would probably be better as a ‘pousse café‘ (after dinner drink).
4. This is my own personal advice
5. ….because this cocktail can
6. be as POWERFUL  as the gun it is named after!
7. It is a drink  meant to be sipped.
   
8. After one of these cocktails French soldiers
9. felt  the courage to face down disaster  in WW I
10. …and swear undying love to their sweetheart!