12 Days of Cocktails: French 75

Ever since I hosted my first New Years Eve house party in Montreal years (and years) ago, the French 75 has become the staple house cocktail for evenings like this. Over the years, the Champagne may have been upgraded. And I occasionally swap out the brand of Gin (it used to only be Tanqueray 10 but not everyone likes the intense nature of it). Here is this years recipe. Make a whole round for your friends (or for yourself), it is the perfect NYE drink.

Recipe

  • 1 lemon
  • 2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
  • 3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup ice cubes
  • 2 oz Moet & Chandon Champagne, chilled
  • 2 maraschino cherries (get the good kind)

Directions:

  1. Using zester or paring knife, slice peel from lemon in long, thin spiral. Reserve lemon for another use and set peel aside.
  2. In cocktail shaker, combine gin, and lemon juice. Add ice and shake vigorously for 20 seconds.
  3. Drop your cherry into the bottom of your coupe glass.
  4. Strain your mixture into chilled glass and top with sparkling wine.
  5. Curl lemon peel around finger to create twist at least 6 inches long. Garnish drink with twist and serve immediately.
  6. Enjoy.
  7. Repeat
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Christian has been a cultural and style junkie since the age of 6; while most kids were swiping cookies, he was swiping his grandfathers' Patek Philippe. Raised to appreciate art, fashion,design and  literature (yeah, this one actually reads) by a single mother fondly called Jackie-O. Christian quickly went from childhood cultural capital thief to academia protégé. Referred to as the cat's meow by some, too clever by half by others, Christian eschewed the academic life and ran away to join the circus -the fashion circus. Several well-appointed positions later and a career on the rise would be most people's dream but it was time to say fuck off and start all over again.

This is Christian Dare Unedited.