Cranberry French 75

The Cranberry French 75 is my favorite holiday cocktail because it looks elegant, tastes bright, and comes together in minutes. Inspired by the classic French 75, it starts with gin, lemon juice, and sparkling wine, then adds cranberry syrup for a touch of tart sweetness and a soft blush color. The result is a crisp, festive drink that feels special without being fussy.

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We like to pre-batch the gin, cranberry simple syrup, and lemon juice in a pitcher so all we have to do is shake and top with champagne when guests arrive. It goes great with cranberry brie bites or charcuterie skewers for an easy holiday spread.

If you love this holiday cocktail, you will also want to make our mistletoe martini, cranberry Moscow Mule or Cranberry Mojito.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

You only need a few simple ingredients that might already be in your bar cart or pantry.

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Gin: The backbone of this cocktail, gin provides the botanical complexity that makes any French 75 distinctive. Choose a London Dry gin for the traditional flavor, or try a floral variety for a softer note. Cognac can be used instead of gin for a richer version, sometimes called a French 76.
• Cranberry Simple Syrup: Our recipe for cranberry simple syrup adds a festive touch and a signature pink hue to the drink. Fresh or frozen cranberries both work. Frozen berries are often easier to find and create the same flavor. If you need a shortcut, cranberry juice can be used, but reduce the amount since it’s less concentrated. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about a month.
• Fresh Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed juice for the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice can taste dull and throw off the balance. One large lemon yields about 2 ounces of juice, enough for 4 cocktails.
• Champagne or Sparkling Wine: Any dry sparkling wine works beautifully. Prosecco, Cava, or domestic brut sparkling wines all give the right crisp finish. Choose something labeled Brut or Extra Brut to keep the drink from becoming too sweet. Prosecco is an affordable choice that pairs nicely with the cranberry syrup.

How to Make Cranberry French 75

Here are the quick, step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions, including the exact ingredients, in the recipe card below.

Pro-tip: Make your cranberry simple syrup the day before and chill it thoroughly. Cold syrup means you won’t need to shake as long, which keeps your cocktail crisp and bubbly.

1. Prepare Your Glass: Chill a coupe or champagne flute in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before making the cocktail. A cold glass keeps your drink colder longer and prevents the champagne from going flat too quickly.

2. Combine the Base Ingredients: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the gin, cranberry simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice. Make sure the ice fills the shaker at least halfway.

3. Shake It Up: Seal the shaker and shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. You want the shaker to get cold and frosty on the outside. This chills the cocktail and slightly dilutes it, which balances out the strong gin flavor.

4. Strain and Top with Champagne: Strain the mixture into your chilled glass, leaving room at the top for the champagne. Slowly pour 2 1/2 to 3 ounces of champagne down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles. Pouring too fast or directly into the center will cause it to fizz over.

5. Garnish and Serve: Drop a few fresh cranberries into the glass and add a sprig of rosemary for garnish. Give it a gentle stir if you want to incorporate the champagne, or leave it layered for a pretty presentation.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can pre-batch the gin, cranberry simple syrup, and lemon juice mixture in a pitcher and refrigerate it for up to 4 hours before serving. When ready to serve, pour 2 to 2 1/2 ounces of the mixture into each glass and top with champagne. This is a lifesaver when you’re hosting a party and don’t want to shake individual cocktails all night. The cranberry simple syrup can be made up to 1 month in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to Store: Leftover cranberry simple syrup should be stored in a sealed jar or bottle in the fridge for up to a month. Once you’ve mixed the cocktail, it’s best enjoyed immediately. Champagne loses its bubbles quickly, and it will go flat if left too long.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled lemon juice won’t give you the same bright, fresh flavor. Squeeze your lemons right before making the cocktail for the best results.
• Don’t skip chilling the glass. A warm glass will cause your champagne to go flat faster. Pop your glasses in the freezer for at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Adjust the sweetness. If your cranberry simple syrup is on the tart side, you can add an extra ¼ ounce. If it’s too sweet, bump up the lemon juice slightly.
• Shake hard and fast. You want to chill the cocktail quickly without over-diluting it. A good shake should frost up the outside of the shaker in 12–15 seconds.
• Pour champagne slowly. Tilt the glass and pour the champagne down the side to keep it from fizzing over. This also helps preserve the bubbles.
• Make it a mocktail. For a non-alcoholic version, swap the gin for tonic water or club soda and use a non-alcoholic sparkling wine or sparkling water for the champagne.

Frequently Asked Questions