Alcohology - "The Frosted Cranberry 75"

Josh joins Matt to introduce Matt and Friends Drink the Universe's official cocktail for 2024 holiday season! Ever wondered why the French 75 cocktail, born amidst the vibrant backdrop of Paris, still captivates cocktail enthusiasts more than a century later? Join us as we unlock the secrets of this iconic drink and explore how it became a symbol of sophistication and defiance.

This holiday season, we're thrilled to unveil our Frosted Cranberry 75, a festive take on the classic that promises to elevate your celebrations. Josh, guides the crafting of this winter delight using Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur and Prosecco, offering a refreshing burst of flavor with a hint of sweetness. Discover our tips for creative garnishing with lemon twists and frosted cranberries, or learn how to whip up a homemade cranberry simple syrup if you're feeling adventurous. Whether you're a fan of the original or eager to try our holiday twist, this episode is a spirited toast to both tradition and innovation in cocktail-making.

The Frosted Cranberry 75

1. Add to a shaker with ice:

• 1 oz Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur
• 1/2 oz half ounce of fresh lemon juice

2. Shake and strain in a champagne flute.
3. Top with 3 oz of Prosecco.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Feel free to use whatever sparkling wine you like best. You can also mix up the garnish with whatever festive ingredients you'd like. A sprig of rosemary or a frosted cranberry would also work great. 

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro
• 0:33 The French 75
• 2:57 The Frosted Cranberry 75
• 4:02 Outro, Poppins Travel

Transcript

Matt: 0:01

All right, everyone, tis the season. Stuff those turkeys, glaze the ham, get them in the oven and pour yourself a drink. It's time for holiday alcohology. I wonder why they call it a cocktail. Yes, I'd like to know more about the Avenus Vinafera. I'm very interested in the terroir. We talking about two carbon, six hydrogen and one oxygen atom. We talking about ethyl alcohol. In this episode, we're going to introduce our cocktail for the 2024 holiday season, which is a twist on the classic French 75. Hello everyone, this is your host, matt, here today with Josh. Hello, and we're going to be talking about the French 75 and our twist on it for this holiday season.

Matt: 0:42

The French 75 is a sophisticated and storied cocktail with a history rooted in French and American cocktail culture. The French 75 is believed to have been created in 1915 at the New York bar in Paris by Harry Macallone, which later became known as Harry's New York Bar. The bar was frequented by Ernest Hemingway and many other famous folks of that era. The cocktail was named after the French 75mm field gun, a highly regarded piece of military artillery during World War I. Its potency was said to pack a punch akin to being shelled by the weapon. That is our kind of cocktail. The original French 75 was made with gin, lemon juice, sugar and champagne, blending the elegance of French champagne with the botanical complexity of gin. During Prohibition in the United States, the French 75 became popular and served as a way to mask the god-awful taste of bathtub gin, often being served as speakeasies. The drink was first recorded in 75 in Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails, the 1922 edition by Harry Macalone, and there are some variations on the cocktail as well.

Josh: 1:43

The cocktail gained popularity quickly, especially in Europe, but recipes varied. Some versions used cognac instead of gin, highlighting a preference for French spirits. This version is often referred to as a French 125, while the French 76 is a vodka-based version, the gin-based version became the standard over time, likely because it offered a lighter, more refreshing taste that complemented champagne. The French 75 remains a staple at cocktail bars worldwide, often enjoyed as a celebratory drink. Its combination of gin, lemon and champagne makes it versatile, timeless and reflective of its Franco-American heritage. The recipe of the French 75 is very similar to one of the perennially popular Tom Collins, with champagne replacing carbonated water In popular culture.

Matt: 2:25

The cocktail appeared in Casablanca. In the classic film the French 75 was featured in the scene where Humphrey Bogart's character, rick Blaine, orders the cocktail. The moment is often interpreted as a subtle act of resistance against the Nazis. As the drink is named after the French artillery piece from World War I, it's also referred to twice in the John Wayne films the man Betrayed and Jet Pilot, the Matt and Friends Drink. The Universe official 2024 holiday season cocktail. This year is a twist on the French 75. We're going to call the Frosted Cranberry 75. Josh is going to hit us up now with that cocktail knowledge.

Josh: 2:57

Our holiday variation of this classic cocktail uses Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur. This is a product made in Chicago and, being a gin liqueur, it's a bit lighter in ABV, coming in at 30 proof, and has more sweetness than a traditional gin. We added one ounce of Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur and a half ounce of fresh lemon juice to a shaker with ice. We shook that and strained it into a champagne flute. We topped that with Prosecco and garnished it with a lemon twist. Feel free to use whatever sparkling wine you like best. You can also mix up the garnish with whatever festive ingredients you'd like. A sprig of rosemary or a frosted cranberry would also work great.

Josh: 3:31

If you like your cocktails on the sweeter side, you can certainly add some simple syrup to the shaker, and if you don't have access to this particular gin liqueur, just use your favorite gin and add in half to one ounce of cranberry simple syrup, which you can make at home with three simple ingredients. If you need to make that syrup, just combine one cup of sugar, one cup of water and a half a cup of frozen cranberries in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, strain out the cranberries and keep in your fridge for all of your holiday cocktail needs. We hope you enjoy this festive and elegant cocktail with those you love this holiday season Cheers. This podcast is a production of Unfiltered Studios. If you would like to know more about joining unfiltered studios, please visit our website at unfpodcom for more information oh ho, hello.

Matt: 4:14

Ho Ho Hello holiday travelers! Is your tinsel in a tangle over your travel arrangements this holiday season? Have you lost a child in new york city and need to get there quickly? Need to escape your cousin eddie? Maybe you want to see the north pole? Or give the gift of travel? If you feel like your chestnuts are roasting over an open fire planning your holiday travel, call our sponsor, the Poppins Travel Company, and they'll help you book the perfect trip faster than you can. Say joy to the world. Get ready for Yuletide Travel Bliss as their travel experts deck your holiday travel plans with everything from flights to hotel accommodations. And if you're looking to get something for me, I'm a size seven day Disney World vacation. If you enjoyed this short and want to spend more time with us, please check out our full length episodes wherever you get your podcasts from. For more information about Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, please visit us at mattandfriendsdtucom. That's mattandfriendsdtucom.