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This French 77 cocktail is based on the classic French 75 but with a floral twist. With gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and champagne, this drink is refreshing, tart, and bubbly! Make it for dinner parties, holidays, and celebrations with friends. It’s a party in a glass!

A French 77 cocktail on a beige counter next to elderflowers, lemons, St. Germain, and gold candle holders.

Oh hi, friends! Today, I’m coming to you from my couch where I’ve been binging SVU and sipping leftover champagne.

The said leftover champagne is a happy accident from a holiday party where I made lots of bubbly cocktails and even more snacks. These 77s are by far one of my most popular party cocktails along with freezer door martinis and this peachy pink gin spritz.

Lucky for me, these also happen to be one of the easiest cocktails ever. With just a handful of ingredients and a lot of vintage charm, they’re sparkly, pretty, and super festive. Let’s make them!

French 75 vs French 77

French 75s are one of the first cocktails I learned how to make when I started throwing parties years ago. They’re ridiculously easy and only have a few ingredients – gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and champagne. But a 77 has a splash of elderflower liqueur (usually St. Germain) or sometimes all elderflower liqueur instead of gin. I made this cocktail for a dinner party a few years ago, it’s been my favorite version ever since!

  • The recipe only has 4 simple ingredients.
  • This cocktail is easy and comes together in minutes.
  • Serve this drink at dinner parties, birthdays, and celebrations.
  • It’s ideal for gatherings and get-togethers. Such a crowd-pleaser!

Just 4 ingredients

A bottle of champagne, bottle of St. Germain, bottle of gin, and lemons on a beige counter.
  • Elderflower liqueur – the liqueur is what makes this cocktail a 77! I like making this recipe with St. Germain but any elderflower liqueur will do.
  • Gin – go with a gin that has floral and citrus notes to complement the liqueur and lemon juice. If you’re not a gin fan, try vodka or more elderflower liqueur instead!
  • Lemon juice – use freshly-squeezed for the best flavor. Store-bought lemon juice is usually either watered down or way too tart.
  • Champagne – I recommend using a dry champagne, Prosecco, or sparkling wine so the cocktail isn’t overly sweet. I tried all 3 when I was testing this recipe and they all tasted amazing! Also, if you like sweeter cocktails, feel free to use a sweeter wine.

Don’t worry about spending a lot of money on champagne. Since we’re mixing it with other ingredients, there’s no need to buy the super fancy stuff. Just choose something decent that you like but won’t break the bank.

How to make a 77

Three steps to making an elderflower French 75. In photo 1, a hand pours elderflower liqueur into a gold cocktail shaker on a beige counter next to lemons and elderflowers. In photo 2, the hand is pouring gin into the shaker. In photo 3, the hand is pouring lemon juice into the shaker.
  1. Using a jigger to measure, add the elderflower liqueur to a cocktail shaker.
  2. Then, pour the gin into the shaker.
  3. Add the freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
Three steps to making a French 77 cocktail. In photo 1, a hand shakes a gold cocktail shaker over a beige counter with lemons and elderflowers. In photo 2, the hand pours the drink into a coupe glass. In photo 3, the hand pours champagne into the glass.
  1. Add ice and shake the cocktail until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds.
  2. Strain the cocktail into coupe glasses or champagne flutes.
  3. Top the cocktail with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!

This elderflower French 75 is super easy to customize to your tastes. Feel free to play around with the gin to elderflower liqueur ratio depending on which you like more. For a more tart cocktail, add more lemon juice. To make it less boozy, replace the gin with more elderflower liqueur. It’s totally up to you!

Cocktails for a crowd (make-ahead!)

This is the perfect batch cocktail for a crowd! It’s one of my favorites to mix up before guests show up for dinner parties, New Year’s Eve, or the holidays. Here’s how I do it!

  1. Combine 12 ounces of elderflower liqueur, 12 ounces of gin, and 6 ounces of lemon juice in a pitcher. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate until your guests arrive.
  2. To make the drinks, pour 2 1/2 ounces of the mixture in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake, and pour into a coupe or champagne glass.
  3. Finish the drink with 2 ounces of champagne and a lemon garnish. This batch drink will make 12 cocktails!

Cocktail punch

Or, you can make a cocktail punch! Just mix 12 ounces of elderflower liqueur, 12 ounces of gin, and 6 ounces of lemon juice in a punch bowl or pitcher. Add a bottle of champagne and gently stir the cocktail together. Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

Just keep in mind that the cocktail won’t be diluted since we aren’t shaking it with ice. But it will still be delicious – just boozier! Also, make sure you’re using chilled ingredients so the drink is nice and cold.

Two coupe glasses with French 77 cocktails on a beige counter next to lemons, elderflowers, and gold candleholders.

Refrigerating the base

This cocktail is best enjoyed right away because the champagne will lose its bubbles over time. But, feel free to store the cocktail base – elderflower liqueur, gin, and lemon juice – in the fridge if you’re making a pitcher! Refrigerate it for up to 2 days and add the champagne right before serving.

What wine should I use?

You’ll want to use a dry sparkling white wine in this St. Germain French 75 so it’s not too sweet. But, if you like a very sweet cocktail, feel free to use a sweeter sparkling wine. Here are a few of my go-tos!

  • Brut champagne
  • Dry Prosecco
  • Cava brut
  • Blanc de blancs
  • Sparkling brut rosé
Two elderflower French 75 cocktails on a beige counter next to a bottle of champagne, lemons, elderflowers, and alcohol bottles.

Lemon twist

The garnish I made for this cocktail is super easy! First, use a vegetable peeler to cut a 1 1/2-inch piece of lemon peel. Using a sharp knife, cut the peel into a rectangle. Slice the short sides of the rectangle diagonally. Then, cut a small slit (about 1/4-inch) in the middle of the rectangle. Bend the lemon peel into a U-shape and slide the slit over the rim of the glass. Cute and easy!

Recipe notes

  • If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can always use a jar. After it’s shaken, strain the cocktail through a small fine mesh sieve.
  • Elderflower liqueur will go bad after about 6 months. If you don’t want to buy a 750 milliliter bottle, you can always buy the miniatures (nips) or a 375 milliliter bottle.
  • There’s no need to use simple syrup in this recipe. The elderflower syrup adds plenty of sweetness!
  • If you want a drink that’s more floral and less boozy, use all elderflower liqueur. I personally like the mix of gin and elderflower but both versions taste great!
Two French 77 cocktails on a tan counter next to lemons, elderflowers, and gold candle holders.

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5 from 2 votes

French 77 Cocktail with Gin

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
This French 77 cocktail is based on the classic French 75 but with a floral twist. With gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and champagne, this drink is refreshing, tart, and bubbly! Make it for dinner parties, holidays, and celebrations with friends. It's a party in a glass!
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Ingredients

Single Cocktail

  • 1 ounce elderflower liqueur (34 milliliters)
  • 1 ounce gin (34 milliliters)
  • 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice (17 milliliters)
  • 2 ounces dry champagne or Prosecco (68 milliliters)
  • Lemon twist, for garnish

Batch Cocktail

  • 12 ounces elderflower liqueur (408 milliliters)
  • 12 ounces gin (408 milliliters)
  • 6 ounces fresh lemon juice (204 milliliters)
  • 1 bottle of dry champagne or Prosecco (750 milliliters)
  • Lemon twists, for garnish

Equipment

  • Citrus juicer
  • Jigger
  • Cocktail Shaker
  • Coupe glasses or champagne flutes

Instructions 

  • Add the elderflower liqueur, gin, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake until the outside is frosty and very cold, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain the cocktail into a coupe glass or champagne flute. Top the cocktail with the champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist and enjoy!

Batch Cocktail

  • Combine the elderflower liqueur, gin, and lemon juice in a pitcher. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate until chilled.
  • To serve, add 2 1/2 ounces of the mixture to a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake until the outside is frosty, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain the cocktail into a coupe or champagne glass. Top with 2 ounces of champagne. Garnish with a twist and serve!
  • To make French 77 punch: Combine the elderflower liqueur, gin, and lemon juice in a pitcher or punch bowl. Refrigerate until chilled. Right before serving, gently stir in 1 bottle of chilled champagne or Prosecco. Ladle the cocktail into glasses and enjoy! (Since this version is not shaken, it will be less diluted and taste a bit boozier.)

Notes

If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can always use a jar. After it’s shaken, strain the cocktail through a small fine mesh sieve.
Elderflower liqueur will go bad after about 6 months. If you don’t want to buy a 750 milliliter bottle, you can always buy the miniatures (nips) or a 375 milliliter bottle.
Don’t worry about spending a lot of money on champagne. Since we’re mixing it with other ingredients, there’s no need to buy the super fancy stuff. Just buy something decent that you like but won’t break the bank.
For a less boozy cocktail, feel free to omit the gin. Or, add a bit of sparkling water to dilute the drink.
If you want a drink that’s more floral and less boozy, use all elderflower liqueur. I personally like the mix of gin and elderflower but both versions taste great!
Feel free to play around with the gin to elderflower liqueur ratio depending on which you like more. For a more tart cocktail, add more lemon juice.
Cuisine: American, French
Course: Drinks
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1cocktail, Calories: 187kcal, Carbohydrates: 10.3g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 19mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Calcium: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @sundaytable.co on Instagram!

xo Sara Lynn

Song of the day – Champagne Coast by Blood Orange