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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.

French 75 Sour Cherry Cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with homemade maraschino cherries
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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 bottle of sapphire gin, a bottle of chandon sparkling wine, sour cherry syrup, lemon juice, and cherries
  • 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.
sour cherries on a baking sheet

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.

step by step
  1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in gin, lemon juice, and sour cherry syrup.
  2. Shake well until very cold and strain into a champagne flute or coupe glass.
  3. Top with Champagne.
  4. Garnish with cherries or lemon twist and serve.

Expert tips and FAQs

What variety are sour cherries?

There are several varieties that fall into the sour category, including Montmorency and Morello. You can use them interchangeably in this cocktail.

Can I batch 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

French 75 Sour Cherry Cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with homemade maraschino cherries

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French 75 Sour Cherry Cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with homemade maraschino cherries
4.55 from 20 votes

Sour Cherry French 75

By Carolyn Gratzer Cope
The classic French 75 uses fresh lemon juice and a simple syrup to create a smooth, sour sparkling gin drink. In this sour cherry cocktail, we swap in homemade cherry syrup for a blush-colored seasonal twist.
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
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Ingredients

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

  1. If you don't want to make your own sour cherry syrup, Luxardo makes one.
  2. 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.
I first published this recipe here in 2016. I've updated the post for clarity and tweaked the recipe a bit since then.

Nutrition

Calories: 250kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Cocktails
Cuisine: French
Tried this recipe?Mention @umamigirl or tag #umamigirl!

Hungry for more?

Subscribe to Umami Girl’s email updates, and follow along on Instagram.

Hungry for More?
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Carolyn Gratzer Cope Bio Photo

About Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Hi there, I'm Carolyn Gratzer Cope, founder and publisher of Umami Girl. Join me in savoring life, one recipe at a time. I'm a professional recipe developer with training from the French Culinary Institute (now ICE) and a lifetime of studying, appreciating, and sharing food.

4.55 from 20 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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