With its lush pink colour and sweet floral aroma this Lilac French 75 is a celebration of spring blossoms!
It is no secret that I absolutely adore using edible flowers in the kitchen and while lavender is a favourite of mine there is in fact a whole world of blossoms out there for us to enjoy. The beginning of May brings with it not only warmer weather but the deliciously fragrant and violet-hued lilac. We are lucky to have several lilac bushes lining our property and it is a joy to await the arrival this short-lived flower each spring. As soon as the blossoms open and the air is heavy with their perfumed aroma I jump into action and make several batches of lilac simple syrup. Syrup is a great way to preserve the aroma of these delicate flowers and it can be used to make many different cocktails or drinks. One of my top choices for this lilac simple syrup is to make the classic French 75.
What is a French 75?
The French 75 has been around since World War 1. It was popularized in the 1920’s and 30’s when it made its way into the Savoy Cocktail Book, one of the first books on the subject. The name comes from the French 75mm field gun that was widely used during World War 1. It is quite simply gin, sugar, lemon juice and champagne. Today it is usually made by shaking gin, simple syrup and lemon over ice, then straining the mixture into a glass and topping with sparkling wine. As a cocktail it is delightfully refreshing and easily customizable. A simple swap of the syrup turns this refreshing, lemony aperitif into a perfume-scented spring elixir that delights the senses.
Ingredient Notes
Lilac blossoms: You will need to gather fresh lilac blossoms to make this simple syrup. Be sure to use blossoms that you know have not been treated or sprayed with chemicals or pesticides. Pick the blossoms from the stem and discard the leaves and stems which can impart a bitter flavour. It does take a bit of time to do this, but it also gives you the opportunity to check for bugs or blemishes!
Blueberries: I recommend using a small handful of frozen blueberries. As beautiful as lilacs are they do not in fact impart their pretty violet colour into the simple syrup. A few frozen blueberries thrown in will give the beautiful purple hue that you would expect. I use blueberries simply because I keep my freezer stocked with them. But you could easily use a few drops of purple food colouring instead, or skip the colouring entirely – no need to buy a bag for this!
Sugar: I use granulated sugar in my simple syrup recipes.
Lemons: As well as being a traditional ingredient in this cocktail, I frequently use fresh lemon juice to add brightness and acidity to many of my cocktails.
Gin: My go-to gins are Empress 1908 and Tempo Craft Gin – both fantastic local brands. Empress gin has the perfect indigo hue to really highlight the lilac. Aviation is another great option.
Sparkling wine: My sparkling wine of choice for cocktails is usually an Italian Prosecco. There are many good affordable options available. Considering it will be mixed with other flavours, there is no need to break out the best champagne. Use any dry sparkling white wine that you prefer.
How to Make a Lilac French 75
First prepare the lilac simple syrup. You can make the syrup ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Start by gathering the lilac blossoms. Pick the individual blossoms off of the stems. In a small pot combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Simmer the mixture until the sugar dissolves and then turn it down to low.
Add the lilac blossoms and a couple of frozen blueberries. Stir the blossoms into the syrup then cover the pot and leave on low for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and leave for another 15 minutes.
Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer and allow to cool. Chill the syrup before using.
To make the cocktail combine the gin, lilac simple syrup, and fresh lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass, top with chilled sparkling wine and enjoy!
Pairing & Serving Suggestions
The Lilac French 75 is best served as an aperitif before your meal. It is light and refreshing – perfect for stimulating the appetite. I like to serve a French 75 with hors d’oeuvres. The acidity from the lemon and sparkling wine pairs beautifully with seafood. Try serving it with a smoked salmon canapé or chilled shrimp cocktail.
More Spring Floral Cocktails
If you love making fragrant spring drinks with flowers easily found in your garden, try out these recipes:
- Rhubarb Lavender Gin Cocktail Recipe
- Chamomile Honey Gin Sour
- Or, if you like a lighter fruiter cocktail, try my Elderflower Grapefruit Spritzer.
