When Brennan’s staff brainstormed 75th birthday celebration ideas, wine director Braithe Tidwell found unlikely inspiration. “I dreamed we changed our entire cocktail menu to French 75s. I woke up and thought, “That is completely ridiculous…. Or, maybe a good idea!” She acknowledges the drink has a permanent home at Arnaud’s, but thinks this selection suits a restaurant known for presenting classics with a spirited twist. While the birthday menu is not entirely composed of French 75‘s (unfortunately!), it features several, including this locally inspired version. Braithe’s sommelier background primed her to dream of a cocktail starring sparkling wine. She fondly remembers the magical moment she first walked into Brennan’s cellar, a former carriage house, “with beams over 200 years old…it swept me off my feet.” She instantly knew she wanted to work there, managing 13,000 bottles of wine, all ready for sharing with New Orleanians toasting this iconic restaurant’s birthday.
Local 75
2 ounces Euphrosine #9 Gin
0.75 ounces lemon juice
0.75 ounces simple syrup
3 ounces sparkling wine
Chill a cocktail flute. Shake the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup over ice. Strain into the flute and top with your favorite sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist
- If you like a drier French 75, add Cava as it will balance out the simple sugar in the drink.
- Play around with local gin and find the one you like the best. Seven Three Distilling Co. also makes a great Gentilly Gin.
- Find your favorite citrus flavor. There are all kinds of flavors you could use to fancy up your drink. Meyer Lemon juice would add some sweetness or adding citrus bitters could create an even more dynamic cocktail.