French 75 Honey Cocktail: A Sweet Twist On A Historical Favourite

The French 75 is a classic cocktail that has been around for almost a century. With its blend of gin, lemon juice, sugar, and champagne, it’s easy to see why it’s been a beloved drink for so long. However, what if we told you that there was a sweet twist on this historical favorite? Enter the French 75 Honey Cocktail. By adding honey syrup to the mix, this cocktail takes on a whole new level of sweetness and depth. This makes it a perfect drink for any occasion. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make this delicious cocktail and explore the history and variations of the French 75.

Origin of The French 75

The drink dates to World War I, and an early form was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris—later Harry’s New York Bar—by barman Harry MacElhone. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun.

The French 75 was popularized in America at the Stork Club in New York. It appears in the movie Casablanca (1942) and is referenced twice in the John Wayne films A Man Betrayed (1941) and Jet Pilot (1957). In 2016, it appears in the ITV series Mr. Selfridge, which is set in London in the 1910s and 1920s.

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_75)

What Makes This Version of The French 75 Different?

In this version of the French 75 the simple syrup (made from granulated sugar and water), is replaced with honey syrup (honey & water), but how you can really make your drinks stand out is by using micro-batch honey.

Micro-batch honey refers to honey that beekeepers extract in small batches. These batches are usually only 3-5 gallons at a time or the equivalent of one medium or deep honey super. Extracting honey in micro-batches requires more work and frequent extractions for beekeepers. However, the additional effort, time, and equipment investment are all worth it once you taste the honey. Micro-batch honey offers a chance to savor the distinct flavors and aromas derived from different nectar sources.

The unique flavors and aromas really come alive in a complex and sophisticated way when featured in cocktails and charcuterie boards.

Ready to give micro-batch honey a try? I’ve got just the Ontario honey for you, made by my bees and extracted in micro-batches by me, all in beautiful Loretto, On!

Save 10% off of your honey for this recipe with discount code: HONEY10

Ordering outside of Canada? Visit my Etsy Shop

French 75 Honey Cocktail

The French 75 is a fixture in cocktail bars, but it’s also a fan-favorite during brunch. In this recipe, we switch out the simple syrup for honey syrup, but the real secret is using a raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, micro harvested wildflower honey for a refreshing twist on this historical cocktail.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Brunch, Cocktails

Cuisine French

Servings 1 Cocktail

Equipment

• 1 Cocktail Shaker
• 1 small saucepan

Ingredients

  

Honey Syrup

• 3/4 oz Wildflower Honey Use a local, raw unpasteurized honey, best if harvested in small batches (see notes)
• 1/4 oz Water

Making The Cocktail

• 1 oz Gin
• 1/2 oz Lemon Juice
• 3 oz Champagne
• 1 Lemon twist as a garnish
• 1/2 oz Honey Syrup

Instructions

 

Make The Honey Syrup

• Combine the honey & water in the small saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir until the honey has dissolved, and the moisture has evaporated and it becomes a syrup, about 5 minutes. You only need 1/2 oz per drink, any extra can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for 1 month.

Combine Into The Cocktail

• Add the gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
• Strain into a Champagne flute and top with the Champagne, and garnish with the lemon twist.

Keyword Cocktails, Drinks, French 75, Honey 75, Honey Cocktail

Check out some of my other honey cocktail recipes:

The Bees Knees: Crafting Your Own Prohibition Era Cocktail

A Bees Knees (or Bee's Knees) is a Prohibition Era cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, and honey. It is served shaken and chilled, often with a lemon twist.

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