Winter time means it’s the season for blood oranges, and this blood orange French 75 is a great cocktail recipe for showcasing their sweet flavor and vibrant color. Fresh orange juice is combined with gin and champagne for a drink that’s perfect for winter and Valentine’s Day!
A French 75 is a classic cocktail dating back to the early 1900’s that consists of gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar in its base form. I view it as a mashup of sorts of a gin and tonic with a mimosa!
Like many drinks, there are a number of variations to the base recipe, which results in a wide variety of flavor options available.
In this recipe, I swap most of the lemon juice for blood orange juice and use less sugar since the fruit juice is sweeter overall. Of course, you can adjust to your personal tastes by adding more or less!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This blood orange French 75 cocktail recipe is fizzy, refreshing, and the perfect balance of tart and sweet. The base recipe has just 5 ingredients (though of course you can add extras or garnishes if desired) so it’s not complicated either!
Blood oranges are typically only available in the winter months here, so you can enjoy this cocktail as a pick me up during those cold, bleak days. Since it’s a champagne based cocktail, it’s great for New Years, but the vibrant pinkish red color makes it a perfect drink for Valentine’s Day as well!
Like most cocktail recipes, there are a number of ways you can tweak and tailor this drink to your personal tastes. However, if a French 75 isn’t your “thing” then check out my Blood Orange Gin Fizz, Blood Orange Paloma, or my Blood Orange Vodka Cocktail for some other options!
Ingredients List
1 ounce gin
1 ounce fresh blood orange juice
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce simple syrup (optional)
3 ounces chilled champagne (or prosecco)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
Any type of gin is fine (choose your favorite). For extra flavor, use an orange-flavored gin such as Beefeater blood orange gin. You can use up to 2 ounces to adjust the strength of your drink. If you dislike gin, substitute vodka instead!
If you cannot find blood oranges, you can use a blood orange syrup like Torani (omit the simple syrup though). You can also use regular oranges, but the color will be completely different
Adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more or less lemon juice and simple syrup (more lemon and less sugar for tart, less lemon and more syrup for sweeter)!
I use prosecco since it’s slightly sweeter, but champagne is classic for this recipe
Garnishes are optional, but you can use a slice of blood orange, a twist of orange or lemon peel, or a sprig of fresh herbs, like mint, sage, or rosemary
Step By Step Instructions
Combine gin, blood orange juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a champagne flute, and stir to mix
Top with chilled champagne (pour slowly so as to over overflow the glass)
Garnish with a wedge of blood orange if desired, and enjoy!
Pairing Suggestions
Appetizers
Smoked salmon canapés
Bruschetta with fresh tomato and basil
Crab cakes
Oysters on the half shell
Goat cheese and fig crostini
Try my Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Dateswith goat cheese, or some Phillips Frozen Crab Cakes in the Air Fryer for the perfect apps!
My crispy Air Fryer Goat Cheese Balls or Air Fryer Camembert make for perfect pairings (especially with an orange marmalade accompaniment)!
Desserts
Lemon tart
Fruit sorbet
Vanilla or citrus-flavored cakes
Dark chocolate mousse
Key lime pie
Try my quick Microwave Lemon Cake or Air Fryer Vanilla Cake for a sweet finish!
Recipe FAQs
What Ingredients are Needed for a Blood Orange French 75?
The primary ingredients are gin, blood orange juice, simple syrup, lemon juice, and champagne.
Garnishes can vary, often featuring blood orange slices or twists.
Can I Use Regular Oranges Instead of Blood Oranges?
Regular oranges can be used, however they won’t provide the same distinct flavor as blood oranges.
The color will also differ, as traditional oranges are orange instead of red inside.
Is Simple Syrup Necessary, or Can I Substitute it?
Simple syrup is not necessary, but it largely depends on your sweetness preferences. The oranges offer some sweetness, but it may not be sufficient for everyone’s tastes.
You can also substitute it with agave syrup, honey syrup, or real sugar if preferred.
Can I Make a Non-Alcoholic Version of the Blood Orange French 75?
Yes, you can make a mocktail version by substituting gin and champagne with non-alcoholic versions.
Sparkling apple juice, blood orange sparkling water, and blood orange ginger beer are all good options to swap in to preserve fizziness and amplify flavor.
How Strong is a Blood Orange French 75?
Like most cocktails, the strength depends on the amount of alcohol used.
Typically, this cocktail has a moderate alcohol content due to the presence of both gin and champagne.
What’s the History Behind the Blood Orange French 75 Cocktail?
The French 75 cocktail originated during World War I. The addition of blood orange juice is a modern twist on the classic recipe.
It adds depth and a citrusy note to the drink. However, there are many other variations as well if oranges are not your preference.
Recipe Pro Tips
Glassware. This recipe assumes the use of a 6-8 ounce champagne flute. For larger (10 ounce) flutes, use 1.5-2x the ingredients (other than champagne) to keep proportions correct. If you don’t have champagne flutes, a champagne coupe, Collins glass, or white wine glass are other good options
Blood oranges naturally vary in color as you can see from my photos. If your drink isn’t the color you want, add more juice before adding the champagne to adjust the hue (remember it will lighten when the champagne is added as well)
For a more chilled beverage, you can shake the ingredients excluding the champagne in a shaker with ice. However, I realize not everyone owns a shaker so I try to keep things simple whenever possible!
Storage and Serving Tips
This recipe scales well for a party or brunch! Combine everything except the champagne in a pitcher and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours
To serve, fill a champagne flute about ½ full of the blood orange mixture, then top with chilled champagne
Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, but note that the champagne continually loses fizziness, so enjoy fresh for the best flavor and fizz!
More French 75 Cocktails
Limoncello French 75
Pomegranate French 75
Cranberry French 75
Lavender French 75
Strawberry French 75
Raspberry French 75
Final Thoughts
This blood orange French 75 is a simple yet delicious cocktail. It’s fizzy, fresh, and features the sweet and tart notes of beautiful blood oranges.
Since these particular oranges are only available in the winter, it’s a great cocktail for the snowy season. With the champagne in this drink, though, it’s also great for New Year’s, while the color makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day as well.
Whichever occasion you choose to enjoy this festive cocktail is up to you, but it’s going to be delicious for sure! If you don’t like gin, make sure to check out my Blood Orange Mimosa as well, which is perfect for winter brunch.
Blood Orange French 75 Cocktail Recipe
This blood orange French 75 cocktail is perfect for winter, New Year’s, and Valentine’s Day thanks to its pretty colors. Just 5 ingredients and a few minutes is all that’s needed!
Combine gin, blood orange juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a champagne flute, and stir to mix
1 Ounce gin, 1 Ounce fresh blood orange juice, ½ Ounce lemon juice, ½ Ounce simple syrup
Top with chilled champagne (pour slowly so as to over overflow the glass)
3 Ounces chilled champagne
Garnish with a wedge of blood orange if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
Any type of gin is fine (choose your favorite). For extra flavor, use an orange-flavored gin such as Beefeater blood orange gin. You can use up to 2 ounces to adjust the strength of your drink. If you dislike gin, substitute vodka instead!
If you cannot find blood oranges, you can use a blood orange syrup like Torani (omit the simple syrup though). You can also use regular oranges, but the color will be completely different
Adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding more or less lemon juice and simple syrup (more lemon and less sugar for tart, less lemon and more syrup for sweeter)!
I use prosecco since it’s slightly sweeter, but champagne is classic for this recipe
Garnishes are optional, but you can use a slice of blood orange, a twist of orange or lemon peel, or a sprig of fresh herbs, like mint, sage, or rosemary
This recipe assumes the use of a 6-8 ounce champagne flute. For larger (10 ounce) flutes, use 1.5-2x the ingredients (other than champagne) to keep proportions correct. If you don’t have champagne flutes, a champagne coupe, Collins glass, or white wine glass are other good options
Blood oranges naturally vary in color as you can see from my photos. If your drink isn’t the color you want, add more juice before adding the champagne to adjust the hue (it will lighten when the champagne is added as well)
For a more chilled beverage, you can shake the ingredients excluding the champagne in a shaker with ice. However, I realize not everyone owns a shaker so I try to keep things simple whenever possible!
Leftovers may be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container, but note that the champagne continually loses fizziness, so enjoy fresh for the best flavor and fizz!
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any swaps, additions, or garnishes added, and size of glasses, so please consider this a guideline only
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
