Food Recipes Tarragon French 75 Cocktail 5.0 (1) Add your rating & review This twist on a classy cocktail is the perfect start to a dinner party. By Jenna Helwig Jenna Helwig Instagram Jenna is the food director at Real Simple and the author of Bare Minimum Dinners, a cookbook featuring more than 100 low-lift, high-reward recipes. Previously, Jenna was the food director at Health and Parents. She is also the founder and operator of Rosaberry, a boutique personal chef services company, and the author of four other cookbooks, including the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 16, 2021 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Victor Protasio Hands On Time: 10 mins Total Time: 40 mins Servings: 8 Made with sparkling wine and lemon, a French 75 cocktail is one of those classics that makes you feel more sophisticated the second you take a sip. The third component of the drink is often gin, but this version features warming cognac instead for more wintery take on the drink. And this French 75 recipe has another twist up its sleeve: it's infused with licorice-scented tarragon for an herby depth of flavor. If you're not a licorice fan, just skip it and garnish the drink with lemon peel. We serve this French 75 on the rocks for a more casual vibe, but feel free to pour it into a pretty cocktail glass for an extra shot of chic. Ingredients ½ cup granulated sugar 2 sprigs tarragon, plus more for garnish 1 cup (8 oz.) cognac ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from 4 lemons) 24 ounces dry sparkling wine (from a 750-ml bottle) Directions Make the simple syrup: Bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over high. Cook, stirring often, until sugar dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and gently stir in tarragon sprigs. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Discard tarragon. (Simple syrup can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.) Fill a large cocktail shaker with ice (or work in batches). Add cognac, lemon juice, and ½ cup cooled simple syrup. Cover with lid and shake until chilled. Fill 8 rocks glasses with ice. Divide cognac mixture among glasses. Top each glass with 3 ounces sparkling wine. Garnish with a tarragon sprig. Rate it Print