The French 95 is a sophisticated champagne cocktail featuring bourbon. A cousin drink to the classic French 75, this bubbly and balanced indulgence has a bourbon kick creating a more high-caliber drink that is still refreshing. Four simple ingredients combine to create an invigorating cocktail perfect for celebrating!
Also known as a Bourbon French 75, the French 95 features Bourbon in addition to sparkling champagne, tart lemon, and simple syrup that accent the spirit. It comes together in minutes and has a smooth yet fizzy flavor that is sure to become one of your new cocktail go-to’s!
French 95 Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice (freshly squeezed is preferred)
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup (this homemade simple syrup is best and can be used for hundreds of other cocktails!)
- 2 ounces champagne
How to Make a French 95 Cocktail
To make a French 95, add bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well for about 20 seconds and strain into a champagne flute. Top with champagne and garnish an orange peel twist.
If you are serving a crowd and don’t want to shake up individual cocktails, you can make multiple at one time by adding enough bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup to the cocktail shaker for multiple French 95 drinks. The standard cocktail shaker is 16 oz, so plenty of room for shaking ingredients of up three drinks at once. Shake well with ice, divide into three champagne flutes and top each glass with champagne. Another option is to stir together enough bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher (multiply ingredients as needed) and refrigerate until serving. Fill each glass just over half full with the bourbon mixture and top with champagne just prior to serving.
How to Serve
Serve your French 95 in a champagne flute and garnish with an orange twist. An orange twist enhances the presentation of the cocktail and an extra hint of citrus flavor and scent by releasing natural oils. Best of all it is easy to add! To make an orange peel twist, run a small paring knife around the orange to obtain a long ribbon of peel. Twist into a spiral and hold for a few seconds for the peel to hold its shape. Add to the rim of the glass once the drink is added.
Bourbon vs. Whiskey
Whiskey is a family of distilled liquor made from fermenting grain mash. Bourbon is a specific type of Whiskey distilled in the United States and is known to have a sweeter flavor than other types of whiskey. So while Bourbon is Whiskey, not all Whiskey is Bourbon.
French 95 vs 75 vs 76
The primary difference in the French 95, French 75, and French 76 lies in the base spirit. All three cocktails contain the same base ingredients of lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne. The French 75 stars gin while the French 76 employs vodka, and the French 95 bourbon. This changes the flavor of the cocktail enough to require separate names. Try them all and let us know which one is your favorite.
Other Champagne Drinks
French 95
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 3/4 ounce lemon juice
- 1/2 ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces champagne
Instructions
- Mix the bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup together with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a champagne flute.
- Top with champagne and garnish with an orange peel spiral.
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