Infused with a flavorful homemade blackberry sauce, this bubbly French 75 is a super quick and easy cocktail recipe. It’s a fruity drink that doesn’t skimp on the booze and never fails to satisfy!
The Best Blackberry Gin Cocktail Recipe
On the rare occasion that I get to go out for a drink with my girlfriends, I always go for a classic margarita or a simple glass of prosecco. But recently, my friends all ordered a French 75 and convinced me to get one too. Needless to say, I fell in love! And I wanted to create my very own version with an added berry twist.
So I whipped up a basic blackberry sauce and played around with combining it into the cocktail’s key ingredients. This fruity, bubbly delight is now my favorite mixed drink! It has a good amount of alcohol in it, and it tastes like a fruity daydream. Happy hour has never been more delightful!
What is a French 75?
This classic cocktail is made with champagne, gin, a splash of lemon juice and a little bit of simple syrup. It was created in Paris during World War 1 and named after a French gun known for its accuracy and speed. The name is a reference to the drink’s high alcohol content. This particular recipe has a blackberry twist for the fruitiest French 75 of all time!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Besides the blackberry sauce, each ingredient used in this recipe is a fixture of the French 75 cocktail. Here’s exactly what you’ll need:
- Dry Gin: Each cocktail contains the equivalent of 1 shot.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed is best.
- Simple Syrup: Added to taste.
- Blackberry Sauce: You’ll need 3 ounces of blackberries, a teaspoon of honey and a splash of lemon juice to make the sauce.
- Champagne: Use your favorite brand.
- Lemon Twist: Optional, to garnish the cocktail.
- Blackberries: For garnishing.
What Gin is Best for a French 75?
Any kind of dry gin will work for this cocktail. The word “dry” indicates that there are no added sweeteners or flavorings. I recommend using a gin that you wouldn’t mind drinking straight for the best results.
How to Make a French 75 Cocktail
This drink is very easy to make with your trusty cocktail shaker. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can use a large resealable jar instead.
- Make Blackberry Sauce: Use a food processor to blend the blackberries with the honey and lemon juice.
- Combine Gin, Lemon Juice & Simple Syrup: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is very cold.
- Add Sauce: Pour the mixture into a champagne glass and stir in the blackberry sauce.
- Add Champagne: Top off the cocktail with champagne.
- Garnish & Serve: Garnish your French 75 with a twist of lemon and a couple of whole blackberries.
Can I Make This in Advance?
Since this drink is supposed to be bubbly, I wouldn’t make the whole thing ahead of time. If you want to prepare most of it in advance, you can shake the cocktail up, add the blackberry sauce, then leave it in the fridge until you’re ready to add the champagne and serve it. Give it a good stir before pouring in the champagne.
Tips for Success
I have a few quick suggestions that will help you make a flawless French 75 cocktail – check them out before you get started with this recipe.
- Make Your Own Simple Syrup: My friend Lisa has an easy recipe for Homemade Simple Syrup that I swear by. If you’re not in the mood for a trip to the liquor store, I highly suggest giving it a try. All you need is sugar and water!
- Sweeten the Drink to Taste: Since the champagne and blackberry sauce add sweetness to to your drink, you may not need the full 1/4 ounce of simple syrup. Add it according to your preferences.
- Roast the Blackberries: If you’re up for you it, you can roast the blackberries at 450°F for 15 minutes to deepen their flavor and bring out some of their sweetness. Once they’re done roasting, prepare the sauce as usual after giving them a few minutes to cool down.
- Ways to Use Leftover Sauce: Just like the simple syrup, the blackberry sauce can be added to taste. When I have some left over, I like to mix it into my morning yogurt or add it to my salads. Can’t let that heavenly concoction go to waste!
What to Pair with a French 75
Pretty much any snack or meal will taste great alongside this cocktail. The following recipes are fail-proof options!
- Serve with Salad: It’s always nice to enjoy a fresh salad while sipping on your fruity mixed drink. My Chicken Strawberry Salad is so easy to make with a zesty lemon vinaigrette to top it off!
- Pair with Wraps: These Blackberry Balsamic Chicken Wraps are dressed with the same sauce used in this French 75! They’re a lovely lunch or light dinner full of chicken, avocado, goat cheese and your favorite greens.
- Serve with Chips & Dip: Happy hour is never truly complete without some tasty appetizers to munch on. I personally love pairing this cocktail with chips and Homemade Hummus!
French 75 Cocktail
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1
- Category: Drink
- Method: Cocktail Shaker
- Cuisine: French
Description
Infused with a flavorful homemade blackberry sauce, this bubbly French 75 is a super quick and easy cocktail recipe. It’s a fruity drink that doesn’t skimp on the booze and never fails to satisfy!
Ingredients
- 3 ounces blackberries
- 1 teaspoon honey
- splash of lemon juice
- 1 1/2 ounces dry gin
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 4 ounces champagne
- lemon twist for garmish
- blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- Use a food processor to blend the blackberries with the honey and splash of lemon juice. This makes enough blackberry sauce for 2 cocktails.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold.
- Pour into a champagne glass and stir in the blackberry juice then top with champagne.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon and a couple whole blackberries
Notes
To prep this in advance, shake the cocktail up, add the blackberry sauce, then place it in the fridge until you’re ready to add champagne and serve. Stir well before adding champagne.
More Fruity Cocktails to Try
Want more easy mixed drinks to whip up at home? I know you’ll love the recipes below as much as I do.
These sound yummy, especially for New Year’s Eve
Yes! absolutely!