The French 76 is a bright, bubbly cocktail that feels celebratory and is an easy at-home drink to shake up. It’s built on the same classic structure of a French 75, which includes gin, lime juice, simple syrup and a topping of champagne or sparkling wine.

But the French 76 swaps the gin for vodka, which is my personal spirit of choice. The result is a smooth, bubbly drink that lets the ingredients shine.

Whether you’re looking for a champagne cocktail for New Year’s Eve, hosting a brunch or just want to add a drink to your bartending repertoire, this French 76 recipe is an easy choice.

French 75 vs. French 76: What’s the Difference?

At its core, a French 76 is simply a French 75 with vodka. Otherwise, both drinks rely on the same ingredient list:

• Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• Simple syrup
• Sparkling wine

The singular difference is gin is used for the original French 75 and vodka for the French 76.

A Brief History on the French 76

One of the most classic cocktails, the French 75 dates back to World War I. The drink is named after a French field gun known for speed and precision. The earliest versions of the drink recipe appeared in the 1920s and sometimes included cognac instead of gin.

The modern gin-based version eventually became the standard. As vodka become more prevalent in America in the 20^th century, variations on the French 76 recipe started showing up.

How to Make Simple Syrup

While you can use store-bought simple syrup, it’s more cost effective to make at home and keep in your refrigerator. Simple syrup is exactly what it sounds like – a combination of sugar and water that is used to sweeten cocktails.

Basic Simple Syrup

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup water

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves. Remove from heat, let cool completely, and store in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

For a smaller batch, use ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup water. Simple syrup always works with equal parts.

You can use leftover simple syrup to sweeten your coffee and tea, or to make other drinks like my Christmas Cocktail.

If you’re looking for a store-bought simple syrup, I like the Cane Sugar Simple Syrup from Portland Syrups. You can even infuse an extra layer of flavor by swapping simple syrup for their Vanilla Syrup to make a Vanilla French 76. I tested it and can say it makes a delightful swap.

French 76 Mocktail Options

To make a non-alcoholic version so everyone can enjoy the festivities, stir together the simple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Strain into a festive glass and top with ginger beer for a more cocktail-like bite, or use a sparkling wine juice for a fruit-forward finish. Garnish with a lemon twist.

If you’re serving the traditional French 76 and a mocktail version, I recommend using different glasses and/or garnish cuts for each. That helps keep things from getting mixed up.

How & When to Serve It

You’ll often see the French 75 or a French 76 with vodka on restaurant brunch menus. It’s an ideal brunch cocktail and also pairs well for holiday meals, cocktail parties, weddings and, of course, New Year’s Eve.

Always serve it well-chilled and freshly made. Because it’s so quick to make, it’s an excellent choice for something elegant without committing to a complicated prep or setup.

Basically, this French 76 recipe is great for any event that calls for something light, sparkling and celebratory.