French 125 recipe
An elegant, brandy-forward variation of the classic French 75 featuring rich cognac and crisp Champagne.
Method: Shake and strain ·
Glass: Chilled champagne flute ·
Time: 4 min ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Family: The Highball Family
Ingredients
- 2 oz Cognac (VSOP or V.S.)
- 0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice (Juiced fresh)
- 0.5 oz Simple syrup (1:1 ratio)
- 3 oz Champagne (Chilled dry sparkling wine, to top)
How to make a French 125
- Combine the cognac, fresh lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously for approximately ten seconds until thoroughly chilled.
- Fine strain the mixture into a chilled champagne flute.
- Top gently with chilled Champagne, allowing the effervescence to integrate.
- Express the oils from a lemon peel over the surface and drop it into the glass as garnish.
Garnish
Garnish the flute with a long, thin strip of fresh lemon peel.
Pro tip
Always chill your champagne flute and sparkling wine beforehand to maintain maximum carbonation and effervescence. Selecting a structured VSOP cognac provides enough backbone to stand up against the acidity of the fresh citrus and the crisp bubbles.
History of the French 125
While the exact origin of the French 125 remains somewhat obscure, it emerged as a natural evolution of the iconic French 75, substituting gin with brandy or cognac. The drink shares its numerical naming convention with artillery pieces from World War I, much like its gin-based counterpart. Although early cocktail guides frequently documented gin-based formulations, bartenders in cognac-producing regions readily adapted the template to showcase local brandies. Today, historians generally view the French 125 not as a standalone invention with a single documented creator, but as a prestigious, warmer-toned sibling to the classic French 75.
Flavour profile
Citrusy, Effervescent, Rich, Crisp
Variations
- French 125 Royale — Substitute dry sparkling cider for Champagne for an orchard-fruit profile.
- Cognac & Cassis 75 — Add a barspoon of crème de cassis for berry depth and a deeper ruby hue.
Practise making the French 125 in the free Virtual Bar game.