The Story Behind The Saon 75

One of the most revered classic cocktails among Francophiles is the French 75, a drink whose origins trace to Harry's New York Bar in Paris. Legend has it that the cocktail was named after the French 75-millimeter field gun used during World War I.

While that drink came out with a bang that still resonates today, the Saon 75 is a riff on this drink. Named for the eponymous Saon, a commune in Calvados in Normandy, France, this version subs out the French 75's requisite gin for Calvados, a brandy made in Normandy from apples or pears.

Calvados adds a bit of complexity to the base of the drink, and works so well in cocktails. It's a great bottle to have on hand, and is easily found in markets around the U.S.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounces Calvados
  • ½ ounce lemon juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • 3 ounces sparkling wine

Directions

  1. Combine everything, except sparkling wine, in a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Shake for approximately 30 seconds to chill and combine ingredients.
  3. Double strain into a Champagne flute.
  4. Top with sparkling wine.
  5. Garnish with a lemon twist.

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Yield: 1
Updated: 2020-02-26

The Saon 75 Recipe

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