French 77 Cocktail with Gin
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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!
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 berry rosé sangria.
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!
Why you’ll love this recipe
French 75s are one of the first cocktails I learned how to make since they’re ridiculously easy and only have a few ingredients. But when I tried a 77 a few years ago, it instantly became my favorite version! The floral note of St. Germain just adds a little something extra.
- The recipe only has 4 simple ingredients.
- This cocktail is easy and comes together in minutes.
- Serve this cocktail at dinner parties, birthdays, and celebrations.
- This drink is ideal for gatherings and get-togethers. Such a crowd-pleaser!
The ingredients
- 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.
- 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 or sparkling wine so the cocktail isn’t overly sweet. If you like sweeter cocktails, feel free to use a sweeter wine!
Ingredient variations
- Liquor – if you’re not a gin fan, try vodka instead. Or, replace the gin with more elderflower liqueur.
- Citrus – I haven’t tried this cocktail with other citrus but I think lime or grapefruit juice would be delicious.
- Wine – feel free to use Prosecco or any dry sparkling white wine. I use whatever I have on hand!
Quick tip
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.
How to make this recipe
- First, add the elderflower liqueur to a cocktail shaker.
- Then, pour the gin into the shaker.
- Add the freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
- Add ice and shake the cocktail until the outside of the shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into a coupe or champagne glass.
- Top the cocktail with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. Enjoy!
Pro tip!
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!
Make this cocktail for a crowd
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!
- 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.
- 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.
- Finish the drink with 2 ounces of champagne and a lemon garnish. This batch drink will make 12 cocktails!
Quick tip
To make a cocktail punch, combine 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.
Serving ideas
This St. Germain French 75 is one of my go-tos for pretty much any celebration. When it comes to parties, this drink is the best for toasting and merrymaking!
- Garnish the cocktail with a lemon twist.
- Dip the rim of the glass in sugar.
- Serve this drink at a cocktail party.
- Sip the cocktail with snacks and hors d’oeuvres.
- Make a pitcher for holidays, parties, & get-togethers.
Storing & make-ahead
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! Just cover the pitcher and refrigerate it for up to 5 days.
To make this drink in advance, combine the elderflower liqueur, gin, and lemon juice in a pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Right before serving, shake the mixture with ice and top with champagne.
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
Helpful tools
- Citrus juicer
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger
- Coupe glasses or champagne flutes
Tips & tricks
- 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.
- For a less boozy cocktail, feel free to omit the gin. Or, add a bit of sparkling water to dilute the drink.
- 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!
Recipe FAQs
How do I make the 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.
What kind of glasses should I use?
The traditional type of glass for French 75s is a champagne flute. But, you can also use a coupe glass like I did. Or, if you don’t have these types of glasses, feel free to use a Collins glass instead.
What is the difference between a French 75 and a 77?
A French 75 is made with gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and champagne. A 77, on the other hand, has gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and champagne. Some 77 recipes have just elderflower liqueur and no gin, but I personally like both!
Can I make this cocktail in advance?
This elderflower French 75 is best right away because the champagne will lose its fizziness after a while. But, if you want to make a big batch, you can mix up the gin, elderflower liqueur, and lemon juice and add the champagne when you serve the drink.
More party cocktails
Ginger Old Fashioned
Spiked Strawberry Lemonade
Orange Dirty Shirley Cocktails
Freezer Door Old Fashioned
Strawberry Gin Smash
Blueberry Lemon Vodka Spritz
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French 77 Cocktail with Gin
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
- 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
xo Sara Lynn
Song of the day – Champagne Coast by Blood Orange
I am a tequila drinker, but this is one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. It’s almost become my favorite. I reduce the lemon juice by just a little, though. I make this for everyone who comes to my house.
Awww thanks so much, Veronica! I’m so glad you and your friends like the recipe. 🙂 Cheers!