Author: corrie.pennington

gin

The Classic French 75

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The classic French 75, a champagne cocktail.

The French 75 is a classic, classic cocktail. It’s one of the first cocktails I ever had and it was ordered for me by one of my dearest friends. It’s her go-to drink and honestly, she IS a walking French 75. Tall & blonde, bright & effervescent, feminine & sophisticated, but man, she can pack a punch. Cheers, Colleen. You powerhouse, you.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

This gin & champagne cocktail dates back to the early 1900s and gets its name from the 75-millimeter Howitzer field gun that was used by both the French and the Americans in World War I. I’m no gun expert but apparently this thing had a pretty mean kick to it. So it seems the French 75 is appropriately named– it is BOO-ZY, I tell ya.

When I make a French 75, or any cocktail with champagne, I prefer to purchase the little mini bottles. I love champagne as much as the next person, don’t get me wrong. But it almost always gives me an instant headache so I never finish a bottle of the stuff.

Simple cocktails, or all cocktails IMO, call for a garnish. Twist a strip of lemon peel around a straw to help it hold a curl while you assemble the rest of the drink. I know I need to up my garnish game and I plan on spending my daughter’s next nap time watching some YouTube tutorials. We all gotta start somewhere. You can use a traditional vegetable peeler or special citrus zester. I found this teeny red box grater at Hobby Lobby for a couple bucks and it is surprisingly extremely sharp.

Another great place to find fun garnishes is the dollar store. I think I got a pack of 8 of those sparkly hearts for a buck. These would be the perfect garnish for a Galentine’s Day cocktail. And the foiled paper straws just take it all to the next level.

There are a few ways to make a French 75 but typically, the components are gin + sugar + lemon juice + champagne. I’ve had them with vodka in place of gin, honey syrup instead of sugar, and with a couple dashes of Angostura bitters. It seems the recipe below is the most commonly used one, but make it however you want.

The French 75 is a classic cocktail for a reason. With only 4 ingredients, this champagne cocktail is incredibly easy to make. Make it this Valentine's Day.

The Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 oz gin
  • 3/4 oz simple syrup
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 2-3 oz champagne

The How-To

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice. Shake well. Strain into a champagne glass and top off with champagne. Garnish with a lemon peel and cheers yourself for being so classy.

French 75

A classic gin cocktail with champagne and lemon. It's simple, sophisticated, and fun.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½ oz gin
  • ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ oz simple syrup
  • 2-3 oz champagne or sparkling wine

Instructions
 

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice.
  • Shake well.
  • Strain into a champagne glass and top off with champagne.
  • Garnish with a lemon twist.

Notes

If you don’t know how to make simple syrup, find the easy recipe here.
Keyword champagne, french 75, gin, lemon, prosecco, simple syrup, sparkling wine
The French 75 is a classic cocktail for a reason. With only 4 ingredients, this champagne cocktail is incredibly easy to make. Make it this Valentine's Day.
Solomon's Bazaar
gin

Solomon’s Bazaar | An Alluring Spiced Gin Cocktail

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Solomon's Bazaar | An exotic Opihr spiced gin cocktail with orange, rosewater, cardamom, and honey.

The ingredients in Solomon’s Bazaar are a little more exotic and the flavor profile’s more sophisticated but this drink is still far from difficult to make. Besides, once you invest in some of these ingredients, your home bar will go from basic to impressive. You might even find yourself inspired to experiment with them.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Solomon's Bazaar | A Gin Cocktail. An exotic Opihr spiced gin cocktail with orange, rosewater, cardamom, and honey.

The particular brand of gin that I used makes the drink, in my opinion, but I think any brand could work. Opihr was my inspiration for this gin cocktail and I built everything around it. It’s considered an oriental spiced gin and uses spices and botanicals meant to evoke the tastes & aromas of exotic spice markets: black pepper, cardamom, and ginger from India, cubeb from Malaysia, coriander seed from Morocco, cumin from Turkey, bitter oranges from Spain, angelica from Germany, juniper from Italy, and grapefruit peel.

Opihr gets its name from the legendary port that flourished during the days of King Solomon; it was renowned for its gold, silver, pearls, ivory, apes, peacocks, and sandalwood.

Solomon's Bazaar | An exotic Opihr spiced gin cocktail with orange, rosewater, cardamom, and honey.

The backstory behind this gin inspired me to create an exotic gin cocktail that could recreate the experience of walking through an ancient Middle Eastern spice market. Luckily for you, you won’t have to wade through bustling streets to find what you need. Amazon Prime leaves with you no excuse to recreate the exotic and sophisticated Solomon’s Bazaar.

A gin cocktail made with Opihr spiced gin, rosewater, orange juice & zest, cardamom bitters, and honey.

The Ingredients for Solomon’s Bazaar

  • 1 1/2 – 2 oz. gin (if you live in the Lonestar State like me, Opihr can only be found at Spec’s)
  • 1/2 oz. freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • 1/2 oz freshly-squeeze lemon juice
  • zest from an orange
  • 1/2 oz honey simple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon rosewater (it’s potent- always err on the side of too little)
  • a couple dashes of cardamom bitters

How to Make a Solomon’s Bazaar

Zest half an orange over your cocktail shaker. Add ice. Pour in gin, juice, & honey syrup. Carefully add a quarter teaspoon of rosewater. You can always add more if you want but I have ruined many a drink by accidentally using too much. Add two dashes of cardamom bitters (or traditional aromatic bitters if its what you have). Shake shake shake. Strain into a coupe glass. Sip & find yourself transported to the markets of Opihr.

Solomon's Bazaar | An exotic Opihr spiced gin cocktail with orange, rosewater, cardamom, and honey.

Interested in making another gin cocktail? Check out the Gimlet, a French 75, Down the Bunny Trail, or a Gin Campari Sour.

Solomon’s Bazaar

An exotic spiced gin cocktail meant to evoke the experience of strolling down the aisles of a spice market.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½-2 oz spiced gin
  • ½ oz freshly-squeezed orange juice
  • ½ oz freshley-squeezed lemon juice
  • zest from an orange
  • ½ oz honey simple syrup (see note for recipe)
  • ⅛ teaspoon rosewater
  • 1-2 dashes cardamom bitters (can sub aromatic bitters)

Instructions
 

  • Zest half an orange over your cocktail shaker.
  • Add ice. Pour in gin, juices, & honey syrup. Carefully add ⅛ teaspoon of rosewater and two dashes of cardamom bitters.
  • Shake well.
  • Strain into a coupe glass.
  • Garnish with orange zest.

Notes

If you don’t have spiced gin, traditional gin will do. I really do recommend Opihr for this specific recipe though.
For the honey simple syrup recipe, click here.
Keyword cardamom, ginger beer, honey, lemon, orange blossom water
Lavender Simple Syrup
simple syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup

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Add some extra sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.

Lavender simple syrup is one of my simple joys in life. Lavender, in general, makes me happy… but lavender that I can pour into my coffee, tea, & cocktails? Heavenly. I think most people are aware of lavender’s anxiety-reducing benefits, but did you know that lavender also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties? It’s even useful for digestive problems, headaches, and is a natural antihistamine.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Now, I’m not saying that you’ll get all these benefits from lavender simple syrup (although the aromatherapy aspect will definitely be there). If you want the most benefits, you’ll need to invest in some quality lavender essential oil. Lavender is one of my most used oils and I use it for anything from burns to mosquito bites. And living in Texas means lots of mosquito bites.

Add some extra sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.

Lavender simple syrup is more versatile than you may think. You can make lavender lattes (divine), lavender lemonade, and, of course, lavender cocktails. Simply use it in place of regular simple syrup in a cocktail recipe to add a fun floral element. You could even use it in baked goods! The buds themselves are edible, too, so you could sprinkle those babies like, well, sprinkles.

The Ingredients for Lavender Simple Syrup

The How-To

Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan. Boil until the sugar is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool in the saucepan before pouring it into a mason jar or small covered container. Strain out the lavender buds if desired. I personally like to leave them in so they can further infuse the syrup as it sits in the fridge. The syrup should last 1-2 months in the fridge.

Inspired by all the flavoring possibilities of homemade syrups? Check out these other options:

Add some floral sophistication to your coffee, tea, or cocktails with lavender simple syrup.
Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup
Lavender Simple Syrup

Lavender Simple Syrup

Add a sweet, floral flavor to your favorite cocktail, tea, iced coffee, or baked goods.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cooling Time 15 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 4 ounces

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • lidded container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp food-grade lavender buds (see note for a reputable brand)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions
 

  • Bring all ingredients to a boil in a small saucepan, or until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Allow the syrup to cool in the saucepan.
  • Strain out the lavender buds, if desired, before pouring the syrup into a lidded container.
  • Store in the fridge. The syrup should last 1-2 months.

Notes

Make sure you use food-grade, organic lavender buds. This brand is reputable.
I personally like to leave some of the lavender buds in the syrup so they can further infuse as it sits in the fridge. 
Keyword lavender, simple syrup, sugar
simple syrup

Honey Simple Syrup

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Honey simple syrup is just as easy to make as simple syrup but adds a lot more complexity to a drink. You can instantly change the whole flavor of a cocktail by subbing honey syrup for simple syrup. Not to mention you take the health factor up a notch (just ignore the fact that you’re most likely adding it to alcohol).

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

I make really small batches of this stuff and store it in a tiny bottle in the fridge. Feel free to double the recipe if you’re going to use a lot of it or use it frequently.

The Ingredients for Honey Simple Syrup

  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup water

How To Make Honey Simple Syrup

Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan. Heat them up until the honey is well dissolved. Pour into your container of choice and let cool completely. Store in the fridge.

click to Pin for later

Made it and want to use it in a drink? Check out these recipes to put your honey simple syrup to work:

Royal Rose - Organic Simple Syrup

Honey Simple Syrup

An easier way to incorporate honey into your drink recipes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cooling Time 15 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 4 ounces

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • lidded container

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup water

Instructions
 

  • Pour the honey and water into a small saucepan.
  • Heat it up until the honey is well dissolved.
  • Pour into your container of choice and let cool completely.
  • Store in the fridge.

Notes

Honey simple syrup should keep for over a month in the fridge.
Feel free to double the recipe.
Keyword honey
vodka

Effortless Jam Cocktail & Mocktail | An Easy 3 Minute Drink Using Ingredients You Already Have on Hand

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Knowing how to make a jam cocktail or mocktail is a game-changer. It's easy to whip up in a moment's notice and feels very fancy.

Knowing how to make a jam cocktail is a game-changer. It’s easy to whip up in a moment’s notice and feels very fancy. The best part is, you’ll probably always have the ingredients on hand– who doesn’t have a jar or three of random jelly, jam, or preserves hiding in the back of the fridge? And if you actually do go out to grab a new jar, you’ll find soo many inspiring possibilities.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy a product via my affiliate link, I will receive a commission. This is at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I actually like! 

Blueberry preserves, raspberry jalapeno jam, ORANGE MARMALADE, mango habanero, and of course the classic strawberry and grape. Did you know that there’s such a thing as mint jelly? Yeah. That rocked my world, too. Add a spoonful of jam into any mixed drink and you’ve upped the flavor complexity.

Knowing how to make a jam cocktail or mocktail is a game-changer. It's easy to whip up in a moment's notice and feels very fancy.

Jam cocktails are so customizable. Want something refreshing and light? Add sparkling water. Feeling like a strong drink? Skip it & pour everything into a coupe or martini glass. Don’t feel like imbibing? Forgo the alcohol and enjoy sipping on something besides water. Mocktails require no thought when you know the secret about jam + tonic. And all the pregnant ladies said BLESS.

Flavor Combinations to Try

Need some flavor inspo? Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • gin + blackberry jam + lemon juice + basil + tonic water
  • vodka + apricot preserves + lemon juice + mint + lemon sparkling water
  • tequila + orange marmalade + grapefruit juice + rosemary + club soda
  • white rum + blueberry jam + lime juice + mint + club soda
Knowing how to make a jam cocktail or mocktail is a game-changer. It's easy to whip up in a moment's notice and feels very fancy.

An Outline of Ingredients for a Jam Cocktail or Mocktail

  • 1 1/2 – 2 oz vodka (or gin, whiskey, rum, or tequila… but vodka has the cleanest profile to work with, meaning it won’t compete with your other flavors)
  • 3/4 oz lemon juice or lime juice – fresh is always best
  • spoonful of jam
  • a sprig of a fresh herb – mint & basil pair well with all fruit flavs
  • tonic water, club soda, or unsweetened flavored sparkling water
  • [optional- if you like extra sweet drinks] 1/2 oz simple syrup or honey simple syrup

How to Make a Jam Cocktail or Mocktail

In a cocktail shaker, add vodka, lemon juice, and the herb. Muddle the herb leaves with a muddler or use the back of a spoon to release the flavor. Add the spoonful of jam and several ice cubes. Shake. Strain into a lowball glass that’s filled with ice. Top off the glass with your tonic or sparkling water. Garnish with any leftover herbs.

Jam Cocktail & Mocktail

The easiest way to make a cocktail using ingredients you already have on hand.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 mins
Course Drinks
Servings 1

Ingredients
  

  • 1½-2 oz liquor like vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, tequila (omit for a mocktail)
  • ¾ oz fresh citrus juice like lemon or lime
  • 1 spoonful jam (any jam will do!)
  • fresh herb like mint, basil, or thyme
  • 2+ oz sparkling water, club soda, or tonic
  • ½ oz simple syrup OPTIONAL

Instructions
 

  • In a cocktail shaker, add vodka, lemon juice, and the herb. Muddle the herb leaves with a muddler or use the back of a spoon to release the flavor.
  • Add the spoonful of jam and several ice cubes.
  • Shake well, about 30 seconds.
  • Strain into a lowball glass that's filled with ice.
  • Top off the glass with your tonic or sparkling water.
  • Garnish with a sprig of herb.½

Notes

If you want to forgo the liquor, this makes a nice and refreshing mocktail.
If you enjoy sweeter drinks, add the 1/2 oz of simple syrup.
Keyword club soda, jam, lemon, lime, sparkling water, tonic
Knowing how to make a jam cocktail or mocktail is a game-changer. It's easy to whip up in a moment's notice and feels very fancy.