No, that’s not a typo. What exactly is a French 78? I’m not sure, but it’s something I invented. A guest at a party I was hosting may have already enjoyed one or two cocktails when he requested a French 78—he was adamant that was the correct name. I ran with it and decided a French 78 is just a jeujed up French 75. The classic 75, consisting of gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and sparkling wine is perfect as-is and it’s hard to improve upon it. Enter limoncello, which is an Italian lemon liqueur that adds another layer of lemony goodness. Limoncello is not at all required, but without it, you just have a French 75, not a 78.
Ingredients
- 1 oz gin
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz limoncello
- 3-4 oz chilled sparkling wine
- Lemon (for garnish)
- Ice
Instructions
Fill a cocktail shaker or large pint glass with ice. Add gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and limoncello. Stir for 30 seconds, or until chilled. Strain the lemon gin mixture into a wine glass and discard ice. Top lemon mixture with chilled sparkling wine and garnish with a slice of lemon. Enjoy. Repeat.
Notes
- This is traditionally served in a champagne flute, but I prefer a wide bowled wine glass such as a red wine glass. As a bonus, you can make a bigger drink in a bigger glass. It’s less work.
- It’s not entirely necessary to stir the lemon gin mixture over ice, I just like it extra chilled. Skipping this step is totally fine.
- Limoncello varies widely. Some are bracingly tart and some are sickly sweet, although most are a nice in between. A knowledgeable staff member at a liquor store (or in the wine department at a grocery store) should be able to point you in the right direction. You may need to adjust the ratios based off how sweet or tart you like your drinks (I prefer more tart).
