French 75 | 6 down 269 to go

Ok, when was the last time you had a Fresca?
 

The French 75’s as much a keeper as the Black Velvet was a bust.  Shake with cracked ice:

• 1/4 oz gin
• 1/4 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice

Decant into a chilled flute and top with 4 oz. Champagne.  Garnish with lemon twist.

A neighbor friend joined us for some apps and a few F75's as a start to her evening out.  I must admit, by the second round, I was not being so meticulous in the measuring and was pouring 1/2-3/4 oz. of the gin & Cointreau with the juice of 1/2 a lemon each time.  They were still delightful.  Light, refreshing, citrusy.  A grown up, better Fresca.
 
Be warned, these go down eeeeasy!  I predict the F75 will get a lot of play on the deck this summer and be pressed into brunch service to relieve the venerable-but-tired Mimosa.

Possible variations include using lime juice instead of lemon, adding a dash of simple syrup and 2 oz. of brandy.  Honestly, I think this would be gilding the fleur de lys.  Substituting bourbon for gin makes it a French 95.

Factoids from H & M: The drink as it’s known now was first mixed somewhere between 1915 & 1920. They cite it as having been named after the 75 mm cannon known as the “Savior of France” during WWI, with a version of the drink (minus the Cointreau and citrus) sipped by French officers before battle.  Ah, courage liquid!