The French 125 is an elegant, fuller-bodied variation on the famous French 75 cocktail, with cognac taking the place of gin to give the drink more character and depth. Here, the lightness of champagne meets the warmth of cognac, while fresh lemon juice and smooth simple syrup bring everything into delicate balance. Think of it as the classic French 75 dressed up for a gala dinner: brighter, more sophisticated, yet still playful.
Story
The origins of the French 75 cocktail date back to the 1910s, and the drink takes its name from the French 75 mm field gun used by the French army during World War I. This cognac-based version, the French 125, gets its name from a different weapon: the Soviet 2A46, also known as the D-81T, a 125 mm/L48 smoothbore tank gun. As the name suggests, this drink is a real heavyweight and packs an even bigger punch than its “little brother.”
Ingredients
1 oz (30 ml) cognac
½ oz (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ oz (15 ml) simple syrup
2–3 oz (60–90 ml) brut champagne
How to Make a French 125 Cocktail
Pour the cognac, lemon juice, and simple syrup into a shaker filled with ice, then shake thoroughly. Strain into a chilled glass, then carefully top with dry champagne. Finally, stir gently with a bar spoon to bring the ingredients together.
However, there is another way to build the drink. First, pour half of the champagne into the glass to reduce foaming later. Add the remaining ingredients, then top off with the rest of the champagne. This way, you can skip the bar spoon altogether.
Serving and Garnish
The French 125 cocktail is traditionally served in a champagne flute. For garnish, a thin lemon twist enhances the drink’s elegance; twist it over the glass first so the essential oils can perfume the cocktail. That said, this drink can easily hold its own without any garnish, especially on a festive occasion.
Calorie Content
One serving of a French 125 cocktail contains approximately 160–180 calories. The cognac and simple syrup provide most of the calories, while the dry champagne remains a relatively light component compared with the others.