If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d eventually create International French 75 Day, I probably would have laughed.
I certainly didn’t wake up one morning thinking, “You know what the world needs? Another day on the calendar.” That wasn’t the plan at all. Like so many things I’ve written about over the years, this one simply started with curiosity.
I’ve always been curious, which sounds charming until you realize what that actually looks like. One question sends me searching through old cocktail books, reputable websites, historical archives, museum collections, and whatever else I can find, while my notebook slowly fills with more notes than I ever intended to take. By then, I’m usually too invested to stop until I know the rest of the story.
This time, the story happened to begin with my favorite cocktail.
My appreciation for the occasional cocktail was redefined years ago when my first French 75 permanently ended my indecision over the cocktail menu.
After all, it combined one of my greatest wine loves, Champagne and sparkling wine, with a beautifully balanced cocktail. What wasn’t to like?
These days, if I decide to order a cocktail instead of a glass of wine, my answer is usually, “Make mine a French 75.” I still love the classic gin version, but I’ve also developed a real appreciation for the Cognac variation when I come across a bartender who knows how to make one well.
As it turns out, enjoying what’s in the glass is usually only the beginning.
Searching for a Holiday That Didn’t Exist
Before long I wanted to know who first created the French 75, why there are different versions, how it became associated with Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, why some bartenders preferred gin while others reached for Cognac, and why, more than a century later, people around the world were still ordering it.
Step inside history: The historic interior of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. View the original photo on Instagram here.
The more I learned, the more fascinated I became.
The more I learned, the more fascinated I became. Here was a cocktail with a history stretching back to the early twentieth century. It had survived changing tastes, Prohibition, evolving recipes, and generations of bartenders who each added their own touch while respecting its heritage. It had connections to the wartime bars of Paris, the grand hotel lounges of London, and the hidden speakeasies of Prohibition-era America. It appeared in cocktail books decade after decade, and somehow, more than one hundred years later, it still felt just as sophisticated as it did when it first evolved into a sparkling classic.
The deeper I went into that history, the more convinced I became that the French 75 was much more than a cocktail. It represented craftsmanship, hospitality, tradition, and celebration. It connected bartenders, Champagne producers, distillers, travelers, and home cocktail enthusiasts through a drink that had quietly stood the test of time.
What surprised me most, though, wasn’t its history. It was what I couldn’t find.
At some point during my research, I found myself wondering whether the French 75 had its own international day. It seemed like an obvious question. After all, there are days celebrating everything from Champagne and pizza to wine and doughnuts. Surely one of the world’s great classic cocktails already had one.
I searched. Then I searched again. Different wording and websites. I thought I had surely missed it.
I hadn’t. I remember leaning back in my chair thinking, “That can’t be right.” How could one of the world’s great classic cocktails not have its own international day?
That tiny discovery turned out to be the spark for everything that followed.
I wish I could tell you that I immediately decided to change that, but that isn’t what happened. Instead, I did what I usually do. I made another note, kept researching, and went back to writing about travel, wine, and the people behind both.
The idea stayed in the back of my notebook for quite a while.
Every so often I’d discover another piece of history, enjoy another beautifully made French 75, or read another article about its remarkable past. Whenever I did, I’d think about that missing day again. I’d add another note, another website to revisit, another idea scribbled into the margin of my notebook.
In hindsight, I suppose that should have been my first clue.
Turning 60: Choosing Creation Over Celebration
The more I researched, the more convinced I became that the French 75 deserved to be recognized. This wasn’t simply another classic cocktail. It had survived for more than a century. It had a remarkable story, iconic places connected to its history, and generations of people who had helped preserve it. If we celebrate so many foods, wines, spirits, and traditions with their own special days, why not the French 75?
The idea continued to sit quietly in my notebook while I worked on other articles, traveled, and kept writing. Every now and then I’d come back to it, make another note, and tell myself I’d think about it later.
Then I started thinking about turning sixty.
I’ve never been someone who needed a big birthday celebration. The closer this December came, the more I found myself thinking less about how I wanted to celebrate and more about what I wanted to create. Birthdays come and go, but building something sustainable that a whole community can share and carry forward felt much more meaningful.
Almost without realizing it, those two ideas came together.
What if my way of celebrating sixty wasn’t another dinner or another trip?
What if it was finally bringing this idea to life?
Once I looked at it that way, the decision became surprisingly easy.
When I started Drink In Life, my goal was never simply to tell people where to travel or what to drink. I wanted to share the stories behind those experiences because those details are what truly stay with you. A great story gives a place meaning. Creating International French 75 Day felt like the ultimate way to bring that mission to life.
It has history that stretches back more than a century. It connects Paris with cocktail culture around the world. It celebrates craftsmanship, whether it’s the Champagne, the gin, the Cognac, or the bartender behind the bar. Most of all, it’s a cocktail that’s meant to be shared. Very few people order a French 75 because they’re in a hurry.
From Scribbled Notes to Global Approval
As I looked over the pages of my notebook, I realized that the true potential of this project went far beyond a single date on the calendar.
What if International French 75 Day wasn’t simply about a cocktail? What if it became a celebration of everything the French 75 represents?
I wanted it to honor the remarkable history and craftsmanship behind every bottle of Champagne, every carefully chosen gin or Cognac, and every bartender who has kept the drink alive for another generation. It should celebrate the historic bars where stories have been shared over countless glasses, and the simple joy of gathering with family and friends to toast life’s biggest milestones and ordinary moments too.
That was an idea I could get excited about. So, I stopped making notes and started making plans.
There were domain names to secure, logos to design, social media accounts to create, and countless little details that slowly transformed an idea into something real. Then came the application process itself. Waiting for official calendar approval was exciting, a little nerve-racking, and, if I’m being honest, a bit surreal. It was the moment this little idea stopped feeling like a daydream and started becoming something tangible.
When the approval finally arrived, the initial shock gave way to pure celebration. I immediately reached for the Champagne and lemon juice to mix a proper toast. What had started as a single question in my notebook had officially become International French 75 Day.
Join the Community for the 100th Anniversary
Beginning May 29, 2027, International French 75 Day will celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the cocktail’s first published recipe. I can’t think of a better moment to shine a light on one of the world’s great classic cocktails and the remarkable people who have kept its story alive for generations.
Over the coming months, I’d love for you to join me as this project continues to grow. I’ll be bringing you behind the scenes as we count down to the inaugural celebration, sharing:
- The fascinating history of the French 75
- The people and places connected to its heritage
- Deep dives into remarkable Champagne houses and distilleries
- Virtual visits to historic global cocktail bars
- Classic recipes alongside thoughtful modern interpretations
- Research notes and planning updates
My hope is that by the time the inaugural celebration arrives, it already feels like a community. A place where bartenders, travelers, Champagne lovers, home mixologists, and anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted French 75 can raise a glass together.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the best travel stories, the best wine stories, and sometimes even the best cocktail stories all begin the same way.
They begin with a little Curiosity. Mine just happened to lead to International French 75 Day.
About Elaine
Elaine is an international award-winning travel writer, wine writer, photographer, and WSET Level 3 wine professional who believes every destination has a story worth telling. Through Drink In Life, she explores wine, travel, gardens, books, food, and the quiet moments that make a life well lived.
All text and images © 2017-2026 Elaine Luxton, Drink In Life Blog & Drink In Nature Photography. International French 75 Day™ and French 75 Day™ are trademarks of Elaine Luxton. All rights reserved.