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The classic French 75 uses fresh lemon juice and simple syrup to create a smooth, sour sparkling gin drink. In this sour cherry cocktail, we brighten things up with homemade cherry syrup for a blush-colored seasonal twist.
Why we love this recipe
There’s no improving upon a French 75. But don’t let that stop you from making this equally wonderful seasonal version. The sour cherry syrup complements the lemon beautifully. It adds a rosy blush and nuanced notes of fruit and florals.
I first published this recipe here in 2016. I’ve updated the post for clarity and tweaked the recipe a bit since then.
What you’ll need
Here’s a glance at the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe.
- A good London dry gin contributes a beautifully astringent and herbal foundation to this cocktail. Here I’m using Bombay Sapphire, but you can use your favorite.
- Just like in the original, freshly squeezed lemon juice provides most of the sour element
- Sour cherry syrup stands in for simple syrup, contributing a lightly tart, fruity, and floral complexity to this seasonal variation. If you don’t want to make your own, Luxardo makes one.
- Champagne or another good bubbly wine (here I’m using the California Chandon Brut that we always keep on hand)
- Homemade maraschinos replace the lemon twist if you like or keep it old-school with a twist.
How to make it
Here’s what you’ll do to make a fabulous sour cherry cocktail. You can see the steps in action in the video that accompanies this post, and get all the details in the recipe card below.
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in gin, lemon juice, and sour cherry syrup.
- Shake well until very cold and strain into a champagne flute or coupe glass.
- Top with Champagne.
- Garnish with cherries or lemon twist and serve.
Expert tips and FAQs
There are several varieties that fall into the sour category, including Montmorency and Morello. You can use them interchangeably in this cocktail.
Sure, you can make a pitcher of these for a party. One bottle of Champagne contains 24 ounces, so enough for 12 drinks. Make the full amount or use half a bottle for a more demure 6 drinks.
Into a large pitcher or punch bowl, pour 24 ounces gin, 8 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice, 8 ounces sour cherry syrup, and 1/2 cup water. Chill for several hours until very cold.
Right before serving, pour in cold Champagne. Pour into glasses, garnish, and serve.
More favorite sour cherry recipes
- Shirley Temples
- Muffins
- Crisp
- Cake
- Frozen yogurt
- Domenica Marchetti’s recipe for sour cherry pie (via NPR)
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Sour Cherry French 75
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce sour cherry syrup
- 2 ounces Champagne
- 3 homemade maraschinos
- or 1 lemon twist, to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in gin, lemon juice, and sour cherry syrup, and shake very well.
- Strain gin mixture into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne.
- Garnish with the cherries or a lemon twist and serve.
Notes
- If you don't want to make your own sour cherry syrup, Luxardo makes one.
- If you prefer, you can make a pitcher of these for a party. One bottle of Champagne contains 24 ounces, so enough for 12 drinks. Make the full amount or use half a bottle for a more demure 6 drinks.Into a large pitcher or punch bowl, pour 24 ounces gin, 8 ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice, 8 ounces sour cherry syrup, and 1/2 cup water. Chill for several hours until very cold. Right before serving, pour in cold Champagne. Pour into glasses, garnish, and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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