Looking for a Nordic twist on a classic cocktail? This easy and refreshing Swedish 75 is a delicious Scandinavian take on that iconic champagne cocktail know as the French 75.
A bright and citrus-y concoction of fresh lemon juice, gin, lingonberry preserves and sparkling wine, this rosy-hued, Nordic berry-infused cocktail is sure to get your evening started on a festive Scandinavian note!
Why This Recipe Works
The French 75 is my all-time favorite cocktail. If you are not familiar with this classic drink, it's basically a refreshing mix of gin, simple syrup and lemon juice topped with champagne.
So how to give it a Scandinavian twist? Simple. Swap the simple syrup for a couple of tablespoons of lingonberry preserves. SO easy and elegant, and with a subtle berry tang thanks to the lingonberries. If you enjoy a good champagne-based cocktail, you really must give this one a try!
The Ingredients
The list of ingredients for this Swedish 75 is short and sweet and readily accessible:
- Sparkling wine. Any dry variety will do. You certainly don't need anything fancy, but be sure it's something you would be willing to drink on its own. I really like the Italian Prosecco from Trader Joe's pictured above.....it is both affordable AND perfectly dry and fizzy in this cocktail.
- Lingonberry Preserves/Jam. You can find this at many large grocery stores or Scandinavian specialty stores. And of course it is always available on Amazon!
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice. The fake stuff from that plastic lemon just won't cut it here. Squeeze and strain some fresh juice for best results.
- Gin. The botanical profile of gin is SO delicious in the background here. Any favorite brand will work just fine in this drink.
- Ice. For shaking things up!
How to Make this Recipe
It's so simple. You are a mere 5 minutes away from sipping this gorgeous Swedish 75!
- Squeeze your lemons and strain out 3 tablespoons of juice. Add it to a cocktail shaker (I improvise and use a large Mason jar) along with the ice, gin and preserves. Cover and shake vigorously.
- Pour the mixture into two champagne flutes, distributing the liquid evenly between the glasses.
- Top with chilled sparkling wine and serve! A quick garnish of frozen/fresh lingonberries or a lemon twist is a nice finishing touch but not necessary.
FAQs
You can always substitute raspberry preserves/jam for the lingonberry OR use simple syrup and serve a classic French 75 instead.
Vodka will work, and if you want to double down on the Scandinavian vibes, aquavit would be very nice here.
Absolutely! Shake up all of the ingredients except the sparkling wine and strain the mixture into a separate container. Discard the ice. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator (up to 24 hours) until you are ready to make the cocktails. Give the mixture a shake and distribute it between your champagne flutes. Top with sparkling wine and serve.
I hope you will give this festive Swedish 75 a try the next time a cocktail is calling your name! It's destined to be your new favorite way to begin the evening. Looking for an appetizer with Nordic vibes to really round things out? I've got several here for you to choose from:
Swedish 75
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons gin
- 2 tablespoons lingonberry jam
- Ice cubes for shaking
- ½ cup dry sparkling wine chilled (I use Italian Prosecco from Trader Joe's)
- Frozen lingonberries or a twist of lemon peel for garnish optional
Instructions
- Combine lemon juice, gin and lingonberry jam in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into two champagne flutes, dividing the mixture evenly between the glasses. Top with sparkling wine. Garnish with lingonberries or lemon peel if desired. Serve.
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