FRENCH 69
MPB
This is our version of a French 75. We call it a French 69, because 69 is funny and because we’re choosing this as our sexy drink.
There are many different reasons to get drunk. You can get drunk because someone hurt your feelings deeply—my favorite reason to get drunk. You can get drunk to celebrate—my favorite reason to get drunk. You can get drunk because you’re bored—my favorite reason to get drunk. But my favorite reason to get drunk is to get a little bit flirty. I’m not naturally the most touchy-feely person, but if I have a little something in me, I become the kind of girl who hops up backward onto a kitchen island or pulls a bread crumb out of a guy’s beard, or forgets to lock the door while peeing at a party. You know, sexy things like that.
Champagne is flirty and light and usually puts you in a fun mood. So the French 69 is the perfect drink to get things going with that special someone. More important, it’s pretty cheap to make and looks impressive. You can mix a whole pitcher of it for not much money. Invite your honey over, either alone or as part of a group. Perhaps one or both of you will be a little shy to make the first move, but by the end of the night you’ll be smiley and all over each other.
I make a pitcher of French 69 for every dinner party I have. Three times it has made someone spend the night. Two of those times it was my best friend, Hillary, because she was too drunk to go home, but that’s okay. Friendship is important.
SERVES 1
For the cocktail
1 lemon
1½ ounces gin
½ ounce simple syrup
1 cup ice cubes
2 ounces dry sparkling wine, such as brut Champagne, chilled
DIRECTIONS
Make the simple syrup
• Combine the sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
• Increase the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer 3 minutes.
• Transfer the syrup to a bowl and chill thoroughly.
Make the cocktail
• Using a zester or paring knife, slice the peel from the lemon in a long, thin spiral.
• Juice the lemon, and pour ¾ ounce (1½ tablespoons) of the lemon juice into a cocktail shaker.
• Add the gin and simple syrup.
• Add the ice and shake vigorously for 10 seconds.
• Strain into a chilled Champagne flute and top with the sparkling wine.
• Curl the lemon peel around your finger to create a twist at least 6 inches long.
• Garnish the drink with the twist and serve immediately.
