American 25

By Robert Simonson

American 25
Melina Hammer for The New York Times
Total Time
2 minutes
Rating
4(109)
Comments
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This drink, intended as a holiday-season quaff, is a simple riff on the French 75, a Prohibition-era Champagne cocktail that includes lemon juice, simple syrup and —depending on which scholar or bartender you consult — gin or Cognac. (Both versions taste good.) Substituting for the traditional spirit is flavorful, fruity apple brandy (make certain you get the bonded version) and peaty Scotch (either single malt or blended will do, as long as there’s plenty of smoke on it). The two are natural liquid partners. The aromatic, effervescent result is as pleasing to the nose as it is to the tongue. The name is a nod to the provenance of the primary spirit (apple brandy is as old as the republic) and the day of year it’s meant for, Christmas.

Featured in: The Flavor of Christmas in a Glass

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink
  • 1ounce bonded apple brandy, preferably Laird’s
  • ¼ounce smoky Scotch (Peat Monster and Laphroaig 10-year-old are good options)
  • ½ounce fresh lemon juice
  • ½ounce simple syrup (see note)
  • 3 to 4ounces Champagne
  • Lemon twist
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (1 servings)

206 calories; 0 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 0 grams protein; 14 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a cocktail shaker filled three-quarters with ice, combine the apple brandy, Scotch, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a flute.

  2. Step 2

    Top with chilled Champagne. Squeeze the lemon twist over the glass, rub it across the rim, then drop it into the drink.

Tip
  • To make simple syrup, warm 1 cup sugar in 1 cup water in a saucepan over low heat until dissolved. Cool to room temperature before using. (There will be extra syrup; refrigerate if not using immediately.)

Ratings

4 out of 5
109 user ratings
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Comments

Rachel

I absolutely love a good French 75, so I wanted to try this recipe. I used a sweet demi-sec sparkling wine (Gruet, if you're curious. Very tasty, very affordable), local apple brandy and Shackleton blended malt scotch. Extremely tasty, great way to ring in the new year! Next time I will probably experiment with the Scotch a bit more, but still worth it.

Greg

Wow! What a fun drink. We used Kilchoman Machir Bay Scotch and it adds such a nice peaty after taste to the drink. Would love to try with some Mezcal and lime juice instead of lemon.

Name

Use 1/4 is simple syrup

Greg

Wow! What a fun drink. We used Kilchoman Machir Bay Scotch and it adds such a nice peaty after taste to the drink. Would love to try with some Mezcal and lime juice instead of lemon.

Rachel

I absolutely love a good French 75, so I wanted to try this recipe. I used a sweet demi-sec sparkling wine (Gruet, if you're curious. Very tasty, very affordable), local apple brandy and Shackleton blended malt scotch. Extremely tasty, great way to ring in the new year! Next time I will probably experiment with the Scotch a bit more, but still worth it.

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