French 75: How To Make One With Bobby’s Gin

It’s cocktail hour here on F O and this time I’m sharing a citrus-spice twist on a French 75. After all, if there’s a time of the year to spice your classic cocktails up then it’s got to be during the festive season. This post contains an item that was gifted to me (marked with an asterisk). All opinions are my own.

What is a French 75?

Typically made using a mix of gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar, the French 75’s history is a bit of a mixed up one. I did a bit of research into the drink’s origin and ended up coming back with a few different results. One origin story that I did find interesting was that the drink dates back to World War I, with a basic version of it having been created in Paris in 1915. The name French 75 supposedly came from the drink itself having such a kick to it that it was described as feeling like being “shelled by a French 75mm field gun”. The recipe was then popularised when it was published in The Savoy Cocktail Book (1930). If you want to do some more of your own research about the French 75 then check out the full Wiki page here.

The French 75: How To Make One With Bobby’s Gin

Before I get to the recipe I thought I better explain the twists that I’ve added to the classic French 75. The first being a swap from champagne to prosecco. Champagne isn’t something that I typically have in stock (I mean, does anyone?). And if, for some reason, I do have a bottle in stock it’ll be for special occasion purposes only (not for mixing in a cocktail!). So, I’ve given the standard French 75 a bit of a switch up to make it a cocktail that’s a lot more realistic to whip up for yourself at home, and swapped the champagne for prosecco. My second little twist is that citrus-spice one that I mentioned at the beginning. Where’s that coming from you ask? Well it’s thanks to Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin*.

A Bit About Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin*

Described as “Dutch courage mixed with Indonesian spirit” Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin is a Dutch-Indonesian gin that brings together the 150 year old history of the two countries. Made with a blend of juniper with cloves, pepper, cinnamon, lemongrass, rose hips, fennel and coriander; Bobby’s Gin is the perfect mix of fragrance, spice and citrus. The name Bobby’s comes from the family’s grandfather who emigrated to Holland in the ’50s. Missing his favourite flavours from Indonesia, he started to experiment with infusing Dutch gin with his favourite spices from home. The Bobby’s Gin that exists today is inspired by the gin that the original Bobby (Jacobus Alfons) created.

A standout feature of the gin has to be the bottle itself. It’s such a unique design! The bottle brings together the family’s Dutch-Indonesian heritage and combines designs elements from both countries. The first is the Dutch ‘kruik’ bottle shape. You probably spotted that the bottle itself is a completely different shape to some of the usual gins that you see at the supermarket. The word ‘kruik’ means jar, pot and jug and that can definitely be seen in the shape of the bottle. The second element comes from their Indonesian roots and has to do with the pattern on the bottle. The design is known as a ‘ikat’ which means cord, thread and knot), and is a traditional Indonesian design pattern.

RRP £37.99, Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin (ABV 42%) is available to purchase from Master of Malt here.

I tested out the gin with my usual Fever Tree tonic before experimenting with it in cocktails and it was absolutely incredible. It was full of flavour and had a spice twist unlike any other gin I’ve tried before. It’s a real gin lovers drink.

French 75: The Recipe ft. Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin

For reference, I’ve also tried out this recipe with both a classic London Dry Gin and with Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin and WOW is there a difference. A good one that is! Bobby’s Gin brings a whole new flavour to the drink. It’s citrusy, spicy and almost sherbetty in flavour as well. As amazing as the French 75 is with a classic London dry, Bobby’s Gin completely transformed the drink to a whole new level. Anyway, let’s get to the drink shall we?

Equipment

Cocktail Shaker

Strainer

Champagne Glass

Ingredients

50ml Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin*

15ml (1 tbsp) Lemon Juice

7.5ml (1/2 tbsp) Sugar Syrup

Prosecco (for topping)

Ice

Method

Fill your cocktail shaker half way with ice.

Add in your gin, lemon juice and sugar syrup.

Pop the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake.

Strain the liquid into your champagne glass.

Top with prosecco, serve and enjoy!

Have you ever tried a French 75 before? What were your thoughts on it? Let me know in the comments. Also, have you ever tried Bobby’s Schiedam Dry Gin before? I’ve got to say it really did make this cocktail a standout for me. We’ve told ourselves that we’re going to save the rest of the bottle of Bobby’s for Christmas but, honestly, I can see us finishing this one off before then and ordering another. It’s absolutely incredible. If you’re a gin lover yourself or know someone who’s a gin fan then you seriously need to pick up a bottle of Bobby’s. It’s completely unlike any other gin I’ve tried.

Female Original

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