It’s been a busy week, so I lost my appetite for a bit — though homemade holiday treats will fix that soon. In the meantime I mixed up some cocktails. These sparkling, brunch-ready drinks pair especially well with a savory frittata.
Keep in mind: this cocktail blends gin with Champagne, so it’s pleasantly potent. That makes it a festive choice for a holiday table or a leisurely weekend brunch.
This version riffs on the classic French 75 — traditionally gin, lemon, sugar and Champagne — by infusing the gin with Earl Grey tea. I first tried a variation like this at a Seattle cafe and loved the floral-citrus note the tea added. I recreated it at home and found the infusion simple and quick.
The Earl Grey gin takes only about an hour to steep, and the honey simple syrup comes together in minutes on the stove. Using a syrup rather than straight honey helps it blend smoothly into the cocktail. Shake the gin, lemon and syrup with ice, strain into glasses, and top with bubbly for an elegant drink. Cheers.
Earl Grey French 75
- Author: Kathryne Taylor
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 cocktails
4.9 from 8 reviews
Earl Grey–infused gin gives this French 75 a fragrant, citrusy twist that suits brunch and celebrations alike. The ingredient amounts below make enough infused gin and simple syrup for four drinks; scale up if you need more.
Ingredients
Earl Grey-infused gin
- ½ cup gin (I used Hendrick’s)
- 2 teabags Earl Grey tea (I used Numi Organics)
Honey simple syrup
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons water
Per cocktail
- 1 ounce Earl Grey–infused gin
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce honey simple syrup
- Dry Champagne or Prosecco, to top (a few ounces per drink)
- Twist of lemon, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the infused gin: Pour the gin into a jar and submerge the Earl Grey teabags. Cover and let steep for 1 hour. Remove the teabags, squeezing any absorbed gin back into the jar.
- Make the honey simple syrup: Combine honey and water in a small saucepan. Warm over medium heat, whisking until the honey dissolves into the water. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Make each cocktail: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 ounce Earl Grey–infused gin, ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice, and ½ ounce honey simple syrup. Shake until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into Champagne flutes and top with Champagne or Prosecco. Garnish with a twist of lemon.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Cafe Flora in Seattle.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and is not a substitute for professional advice.
- Category: Cocktail