A twist on the classic French 75 recipe. This French 75 cocktail is infused with cranberry to bring the holiday season together. Gin, sparkling wine, with bright cranberry and lemon flavours.
My favourite pre-dinner cocktail has to be a French 75. I love the lemon flavours, the bitterness of the gin and of course, bubbles. Who can resist?
Around the holidays I up the ante by infusing the drink with cranberry simple syrup for a festive spin on things. I almost always offer the simple syrup and gin at our annual holiday party so I can serve these Cranberry 75s on repeat for our guests. It’s really a classic French 75 recipe with some bright cranberry flavour and colour.
The genius behind this cocktail is that it is literally a pour everything in the glass kind of cocktail. No shaking, no mess (unless you’re a chronic over-pourer like myself), and is a drink everyone can get behind.
How to make a good French 75:
A classic French 75 recipe contains gin, lemon simple syrup, and sparkling wine or champagne. The way to make a good French 75 is by having all the ingredients chilled. It provides a crisp cocktail with bright lemon essence.
The bubbles make the cocktail feel light and quite frankly, quite dreamy to enjoy.
More easy holiday cocktails:
This holiday cocktail is perfect for festive gatherings, including brunch. It’s got all the Christmas hues, flavours, and is fun for guests to put together in the kitchen.
I like putting the the simple syrup, sparkling wine, and gin so that guests can customize this signature cocktail to suit their own preferences. I like my cocktails on the dry side (I can’t as much sweet in my life as I get older) so the gin and dry sparkling wine are what get me there. Use a sweeter sparkling wine if that’s your jam.
A twist on the classic French 75 cocktail to bring the holiday season together. Gin, sparkling wine, with bright cranberry flavours.
- 2 cups cranberries (around 220 grams)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 oz cranberry simple syrup (see recipe above)
- 1 oz gin
- 1/4-1/2 cup Chilled Prosecco, Sparkling Wine, Cava, Champagne, etc.
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Place cranberries, water, and sugar in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until cranberries start to release some juice. Strain and reserve liquids (discard solids or use for another purpose). Chill. Can be kept covered and chilled for 3-5 days.
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Add simple syrup and gin into a champagne flute. Top with chilled bubbles and garnish with a wedge of lemon if desired.
Enjoy! xo
Scottish Potato Scones
I cannot get enough cranberry concoctions this time of year! I will be making these with Prosecco as I think it will balance the sweetness of the sugar and tartness of the cranberries best.
Oh nice. I love Cava so that’s my go to. And I agree, festive cocktails are a great way to get into the spirit 😉 of things.
Love this! Simple, refreshing, with just a twist of alcohol. Perfect!
Thank you! I’m all about simplicity. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!
Gorgeous cocktail and I love anything bubbly! Have fun at the party!
Thanks Julia! Bubbles make my life immensely more enjoyable 😉
What a beautiful looking cocktail for the Christmas season. Sounds delicious!
Thanks Julia!!
Yes please! This looks like a tasty, festive cocktail! I’ll have to try this over the holidays 🙂
Sending one your way 😉
Beautiful drink Samantha! I love the flavours, and I’m particularly excited to see what you did with the cranberry component. In fact, you’ve been knocking it out of the park with the cranberries in general.
And by the way, if you’re still looking for that cocktail dress to go with the cocktails, have you checked out Simons on the North Shore? I actually haven’t been to it yet, but I’m a HUGE fan from my Montreal days, and we tend to binge-shop on our trips to the Edmonton location. Will be doing again this year. Hopefully with a celebratory Cranberry 75 afterwards. Cheers.
Hahaha! You’re so funny. I do go to Simons on the regular. We’re a short drive away from there. It’s more that I don’t have the time to shop and I don’t love taking the 3 kids with me (I’m sure most parents get me on that front). I used go crazy at Simon’s in MTL and QC when I would go there. Even their housewares section is great.
I hope you have a great trip to Edmonton!! And enjoy those Cranberry 75s too 😉
I’m also a mom with NOTHING TO WEARRRRR… sheesh! Hope the party was fun! I love the prettiness of this Cranberry 75! ^__^
Thanks Lyndsay! I wore a dress that I bought in Italian when we were there many years ago for our honeymoon … classic cut which is nice to have on the back burner. Bonus is that I can fit into it again!!! What’s party without a pretty drink?! Have a great snowy weekend!
This is such a gorgeous sparkling cocktail – that pretty color is putting me in a holiday mood!
Made me smile Laura! Thanks for the note. <3
Ohhhh, I love the sound of this pretty little cocktail. It sounds delicious. I think I’m going to have to try making these myself ?
Thanks Natalie! Let me know how it goes for you 🙂
These are so pretty and they sound delish! I love how you’ve photographed them, too. I find cocktails a challenge to snap — usually because I’ve already taste-tested a few. Lol.
Thanks Dana! I find cocktails extremely challenging to photograph. It is becoming “easier” so to speak, but I need to keep working at it for sure. And I’m usually ready to down the cocktails by the end of the shoot too!
I did something similar with pomegranates recently, but the idea of cranberry syrup this time of year sounds amazing. I’ll be making these and cranberry vodka tonics and basically just have an excuse to keep drinking right through to the holidays. PS – I feel you on the dress shopping thing. I still need something for New Years. May just recycle something old with new earrings hahaha
Upcycle Taylor 🙂 That’s what I call jazzing up an old outfit anyways :). Cranberry vodka tonic is also on my radar – or maybe just cranberry, gin and tonic 😉 I have a slew of cocktails I want to make for our upcoming party but I know i just don’t have the time for it. Fingers crossed I can get my stuff together and least put out one or two.
Simple, make ahead…and bubbly! The perfect Christmas cocktail! Well done Samantha.
Thanks Bernice!