A sort of elevated highball, you can think of this classic drink as the mimosa’s elder, more elegant sister. A vibrant pairing of citrus, aged eau de vie, and Champagne, this drink signified luxury when it was invented at the turn of the 20th century. A Phylloxera epidemic had recently decimated France’s wine industry, so at the time both of the beverage’s alcoholic components were relatively expensive and difficult to obtain. 

In recent years, this old favorite has returned to the bar scene, ushered in by the trade’s growing appreciation for wine- and grape-based distillates, as well as the contemporary bar-goer's taste for lighter, more sessionable serves. The classic French 75 recipe is simple enough to be enjoyed casually, but it’s also a serious cocktail that's particularly well suited to marking celebratory moments, offering the drinker the best of both worlds.

Note: While some cocktail historians—Dave Wondrich included—believe that the French 75 cocktail was originally made with Cognac, there are numerous alternative versions published between 1920 and 1940 that call for gin. Your choice of spirit can be determined by personal preference, or by the season, using lighter botanical gin in the spring and summer and richer Cognac fall and winter.