French 125 (French '75' with cognac) Jones' 1977 recipe
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Ingredients
How to make
Serve in a collins glass
- 1 STIR powdered sugar with lemon juice in base of shaker until sugar dissolves
- 2 Add cognac, SHAKE with ice and strain into ice-filled glass
- 3 TOP with champagne and lightly stir.
Flavour profile
History
Jones' original 1977 recipe, built in the glass, comprises 2oz/60ml cognac, 1oz/30ml lemon juice, and 2 spoons of sugar, topped with champagne. This results in a potent drink. It is hoped that Jones would approve of the modifications made to his recipe. The revised version retains considerable strength but is somewhat more harmonious due to the additional dilution achieved by shaking.
This drink is a cognac-based variation of the gin-based French 75 cocktail, which was named in honor of the French 75mm field gun used by the French army during WWI. This cognac version is appropriately named after the Soviet 2A46 (also known as D-81T) 125mm/L48 smoothbore cannon, which is mounted on tanks. The recipe is adapted from Stanley M. Jones' 1977 book Jones Complete Barguide. Modern interpretations of the French 125 are typically served straight-up in a flute glass. Information on the history and variations of the French 75 can be found elsewhere.