A FUN SPIN ON THE CLASSIC THAT IS JUST STUNNING FOR A GALENTINE'S PARTY!
Hi friends!!! We've made it to February. Can you believe it?
I can't for one but here I also am already giddy thinking about Superbowl get-togethers and Galentine's this weekend. If you've seen any one of my recipes or spent long enough on my IG - you ALREADY KNOW I am all about ease when it comes to entertaining.
Brunch cocktails are the ultimate way to elevate a gathering especially when they begin before noon. And while mimosas will always have their place, sometimes you want something a little extra. That's the Brunch 75 for ya—a sparkling, floral take on the classic French 75 that feels effortlessly luxurious. This is all said with it STILL being easy to batch ahead and we love that.
This Rose Lychee 75 is topped off with Prosecco OR with sparkling rosé (to stay on theme with the pink vibes) for a bright, bubbly finish. It’s the kind of drink that instantly makes any brunch setting feel more elegant!
The French 75 has been a brunch staple for over a century. My take on the classic softens those sharper notes in the OG version with lychee while a bit of rosewater adds a delicate floral note to give us a perfectly sippable, subtly sophisticated brunch cocktail that pairs beautifully with everything from flaky pastries (almond chocolate croissants for example) to a vegetable-forward egg frittata.
I'll have more on this in the notes but what I also love about French 75s is that instead of making individual drinks for your guests, you can simply mix the gin, lychee juice, rosewater, and lime juice in a pitcher ahead of time and refrigerate it. When your guests arrive, all you need to do is shake individual servings with ice, strain into glasses, and top with bubbly.
This is such a fun recipe and I really hope many of you try it! I've got so many sweet messages asking for Valentine's/Galentine's recipes and this one is the one to make, y'all!
____________________________________________
INGREDIENTS
1 oz gin
1 oz lychee juice (I used the juice from canned lychees) or regular lychee juice i.e. from Maaza
1/2 tsp rosewater, less or more to taste
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Sparkling rose or Prosecco (to top), roughly 3-4 oz or more to taste
Edible rose petals and/or reserved lychees from canned lychees on a cocktail pick, optional for garnish
DIRECTIONS
In a shaker, combine gin, canned lychee juice, rosewater, and lime juice. Add ice and shake well.
Strain into a champagne flute or coupe glass.
Top it off with sparkling wine or Prosecco.
Garnish with edible rose petals and/or lychee from the canned lychees on a cocktail pick.
~ Serves 1
Notes
This drink is definitely on the sweeter side so adjust as you see fit. For example, the juice from the canned lychees is VERY sweet. You can opt to use a lychee juice which is typically a bit lighter. Alternatively, you can add a little less canned lychee juice and use a bit more lime juice to your liking! Another tip is to choose a Brut or Extra Brut sparkling wine instead of a sweeter Prosecco will also help keep the drink a little less sweet. All to say, you've got options. :)
This recipe can easily be batched and made ahead of time. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe whenever anyone asks me for suggestions for batched cocktails for a daytime party. Here are the measurements for 15 for those interested:
2 cups gin
2 cups lychee juice (from canned lychees) OR lychee nectar (Maaza, Rubicon, etc.)
1 cup lime juice (use a bottled 100% lime juice to save time)
2 to 3 tbsp rosewater (to taste)
1 bottle sparkling rosé or Prosecco (to top each serving)
BATCHING INSTRUCTIONS: In a large pitcher or sealed container, combine the gin, lychee juice, lime juice, and rosewater. Stir well, then taste and adjust the rosewater (start with 2 tbsp and add up to 3 tbsp if you want stronger floral notes). Refrigerate the batched base for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld for up to 4-6 hours. To serve, pour 2 ½ oz (about ¼ cup) of the base into a champagne flute or coupe glass. Top with chilled sparkling wine.
To make it effortless when serving a crowd, here are my tips to make sure you're good to go:
When it’s time to serve, simply shake individual portions (about 2.5 oz per serving) with ice, strain into glasses and top with sparkling wine. If you don't want to do that...I'd reco the following:
- Punch Bowl Method: Pour the batched base over ice in a large punch bowl or drink dispenser, then let guests serve themselves and top with bubbly. This omits the need for you to shake each drink individually.
- Pre-Portioned Glasses: If you want a polished, ready-to-go presentation, pre-fill 15 glasses with 2 ½ oz of the base, then top with sparkling wine right before serving so the bubbles stay bubbly.
For an A++ non-alcoholic version, use zero-proof gin (like the one from Ritual) or another non-alcoholic gin alternative, and top with Surely Sparkling Rosé!
Comments