The Gatling Gun Cocktail: A cider cocktail after the spirit of a French 75

About the recipe

The French 75 got its name from the World War I 75mm field gun. In a similar fashion, Jerry Slater, the author of this recipe, named the drink after a predecessor of the modern machine gun invented by North Carolina native Dr. Richard Gatling. 

While most versions of a French 75 call for gin, Chris Hannah, a bartender at Arnaud’s French 75 Bar in New Orleans, insists the drink should be made with French cognac. So in a Southern twist, we’re using aged brandy from Louisville, Kentucky’s Copper & Kings American Brandy Company. To really kick up the apple flavor, use their new Floodwall Apple Brandy. 

Makes 1 cocktail

Hands On Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounce aged brandy, such as Copper & Kings Floodwall Apple Brandy 

1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 

1/2 ounce simple syrup

Ice cubes

3 ounces Foggy Ridge Serious Cider 

Long lemon peel spiral, for garnish

Instructions

Combine the brandy, lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker. Add ice cubes and shake vigorously until chilled. Double-strain the cocktail by holding a small, conical fine mesh strainer between the shaker tin with a Hawthorne strainer (or a cobbler shaker with its built-in strainer) and a champagne flute. Pour the cocktail through both strainers into the glass. Top with the cider. Garnish with the lemon peel spiral and serve immediately.