Chef notes
Bring a little sweetness into the new year with this twist on the classic French 75 champagne cocktail! The Honey 75 is made with flavorful orange blossom honey syrup instead of sugar for a slightly more exciting cocktail. French 75s can be made with either gin or cognac, and people will argue endlessly about which spirit is right, but I say that when it comes to food and drink, the right choice is whatever tastes the best to you!
Technique tip: Add the spirits to the shaker first, then add ice only just before shaking to avoid diluting the drink! The honey syrup can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in a covered jar until ready to use.
Swap option: Substitute any type of honey. Try cognac instead of gin. Substitute tonic water or lemon seltzer for a nonalcoholic version.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup orange blossom honey
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons (1½ ounces) gin
- 1½ tablespoons (3/4 ounces) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Honey Syrup (recipe above)
- ice
- chilled champagne or dry sparkling wine
- lemon peel and honeycomb, for garnish
Preparation
For the honey syrup:
In a small saucepan, combine honey and water and heat on low just until the honey melts. Whisk well and let cool.
For the cocktail:
Combine gin, lemon juice and the Honey Syrup (reserve rest for other cocktails or beverages) in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, close, and shake until outside of shaker is frosty. Pour into a champagne flute or coup and top off with champagne. Garnish with lemon peel and/or honeycomb garnish!
