Strawberry French 75 with crème de violette served with fresh strawberries

Strawberry French 75 with crème de violette is an elegant floral twist on the classic sparkling gin cocktail. Made with fresh strawberries, violet liqueur, lemon juice, gin, and sparkling wine, it’s a refreshing summer cocktail that’s perfect for celebrations.

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Sparkling strawberry French 75 cocktail with gin and violet liqueur

Hey folks – I hope you all are doing well!

After experimenting with several crème de violette cocktails this summer, I couldn’t resist giving one of my favourite classics a floral makeover. Fresh strawberries and violet liqueur are such a natural pairing, and when topped with sparkling wine, they create a cocktail that feels elegant enough for a celebration yet simple enough to make any weekend feel a little more special. So let’s dive into this violet French 75 cocktail with fresh strawberries.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry French 75 with Crème de Violette

A fresh twist on a classic – This strawberry French 75 stays true to the original while adding fresh berries and delicate floral notes.
Elegant yet approachable – It looks impressive but comes together in just a few minutes.
Perfect for entertaining – A wonderful cocktail for brunch, garden parties, bridal showers, birthdays, holidays, and New Year’s Eve.
Beautifully balanced – Lemon juice keeps the strawberries and violet liqueur bright instead of overly sweet.
Naturally colourful – Fresh strawberries and crème de violette create a gorgeous blush-pink drink.
Easy to customize – Swap the strawberries for raspberries or blackberries for equally delicious variations.

What Is a French 75?

The French 75 is one of the world’s most iconic sparkling gin cocktails, traditionally made with gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. Light, crisp, citrusy, and bubbly, it has remained a favourite for over a century thanks to its elegant balance of botanicals, acidity, and sparkling wine.

The cocktail is believed to have originated during or shortly after the First World War and takes its name from the French 75 mm field gun – a playful reference to its surprisingly powerful kick.

Unlike many sparkling cocktails, the French 75 starts with a classic gin sour before sparkling wine is added. This gives it more structure than fruit-forward bubbly drinks while making it wonderfully adaptable to seasonal ingredients.

Here are a few similar sparkling cocktails worth exploring:

Gin Fizz – Gin, lemon juice, sweetener, and soda water instead of sparkling wine. Rhubarb Gin Fizz with Vanilla – A Light Summer Cocktail
Tom Collins – A taller, more refreshing cousin of the Gin Fizz served over ice.
Spritz – Sparkling wine combined with an aperitif and often finished with soda water.
Royale cocktails – Sparkling wine paired with a liqueur, such as crème de cassis in a Kir Royale. Lavender Kir Royale – Sparkling Champagne Cocktail
Bellini and Mimosa – Fruit-based sparkling wine cocktails without a gin base.

A classic French 75 provides the perfect foundation for seasonal variations, which is exactly why fresh strawberries and crème de violette work so beautifully here.

Why This Strawberry French 75 Works

The French 75 has endured for generations because its simple combination of gin, citrus, and sparkling wine creates a beautifully balanced canvas for seasonal flavours. This version keeps the character of the original while introducing fresh strawberries and crème de violette in a way that feels elegant, natural, and unmistakably summery.

Fresh Strawberries and Sparkling Wine Are a Natural Pairing

Fresh strawberries and sparkling wine have been paired together for generations, particularly with Champagne. The berries bring gentle sweetness and juicy freshness, while the bubbles keep every sip light, crisp, and refreshing.

In this cocktail, muddled strawberries soften the sharper citrus notes and add genuine fruit flavour without making the drink taste heavy or syrupy.

Why Crème de Violette Makes This Strawberry French 75 Cocktail Special

Crème de violette is a traditional French floral liqueur made from violet flowers. Although only a small amount is used, it adds delicate floral aroma and subtle sweetness that beautifully complement both the strawberries and the botanical character of the gin.

Rather than overpowering the cocktail, it acts almost like a finishing seasoning, making the fruit taste brighter and more aromatic while giving the drink a distinctly elegant French feel.

The Gin Brings Everything Together

Gin is the ingredient that ties the entire cocktail together. Its botanical profile bridges the fresh strawberries, lemon juice, floral violet liqueur, and sparkling wine, resulting in a drink that feels layered, balanced, and unmistakably like a French 75 rather than simply a sparkling berry cocktail.

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Strawberry French 75

Like the classic French 75, this strawberry veriosn relies on just a handful of quality ingredients. Because there are so few components, each one plays an important role in creating a balanced strawberry French 75 cocktail with bright citrus, fresh fruit, delicate floral notes, and lively bubbles.

Gin – A classic London Dry gin provides crisp juniper notes that beautifully complement both the strawberries and the violet liqueur. Contemporary floral gins also work well if you prefer a softer botanical profile.
Fresh strawberries – Fresh ripe strawberries add natural sweetness, vibrant colour, and authentic berry flavour that’s far brighter than syrup or purée.
Crème de violette (violet liqueur) – This traditional French violet liqueur contributes delicate floral aroma, subtle sweetness, and an elegant European character. A little goes a long way, so start with a bar spoon and adjust to taste.
Fresh lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice balances the sweetness of the strawberries and sparkling wine while preserving the bright, refreshing character that defines every French 75 recipe.
Sparkling wine – Brut Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, or another dry sparkling wine adds crisp bubbles and refreshing acidity.
Ice – For chilling the cocktail before topping with sparkling wine.
Optional garnish – Fresh strawberry, lemon twist, edible flowers, or a few fresh violet petals if available.

Choosing the Best Spirits for a Strawberry French 75

One of the best things about this strawberry French 75 with crème de violette is that it’s forgiving. While the overall style remains the same, choosing different gins or sparkling wines allows you to tailor the cocktail to your personal taste.

Best Gin for a Strawberry French 75

Gin is the backbone of any French 75 cocktail, so choosing one you enjoy makes a noticeable difference.

London Dry gin – The traditional choice. Crisp juniper and citrus botanicals create a classic strawberry French 75 with excellent balance.
Contemporary gin – Softer botanical-forward gins with citrus or floral notes produce a lighter, more modern interpretation.
Empress 1908 Gin – One of my favourite alternatives. Besides its beautiful natural colour, its floral botanicals pair wonderfully with strawberries and crème de violette, creating an even more aromatic floral French 75.

Choosing the Best Sparkling Wine

You don’t need an expensive bottle to make an excellent sparkling gin cocktail.

Champagne – The traditional choice for an authentic French 75. Dry Brut Champagne offers elegant acidity and fine bubbles.
Prosecco – Fruity, approachable, and often more affordable. It creates a slightly softer strawberry sparkling wine cocktail.
Cava – Crisp, dry, and excellent value, making it one of the best everyday choices.
Other dry sparkling wines – Any Brut sparkling wine works well, provided it isn’t overly sweet.

Avoid sweet sparkling wines whenever possible. Since the strawberries and violet liqueur already contribute fruit and sweetness, a dry sparkling wine keeps the cocktail bright and refreshing.

Choosing a Violet Liqueur

Crème de violette is the ingredient that transforms this from a simple strawberry gin cocktail into a distinctive strawberry French 75 with violet liqueur.

Different brands vary considerably in both sweetness and floral intensity, so don’t be afraid to adjust the amount slightly. I usually use a little more than a standard bar spoon because I enjoy a more noticeable floral character, but if you’re trying crème de violette for the first time, it’s best to start conservatively. You can always add another splash, but it’s much harder to dial back an overly floral cocktail.

Can I Make This Cocktail with Other Fruit or Berries?

Absolutely! One of the reasons I love this French 75 variation is how easily it adapts to different berries while maintaining the same elegant balance of gin, lemon, sparkling wine, and violet liqueur.

Raspberries – Bright, tangy, and wonderfully aromatic. They pair exceptionally well with crème de violette and create a vibrant raspberry French 75.
Blackberries – Richer and slightly deeper in flavour, producing a more sophisticated blackberry French 75 with beautiful colour.
Mixed berries – Combine strawberries with a handful of raspberries or blackberries for added complexity.
Wild berries – If they’re in season, wild berries can create an even more intensely flavoured summer gin cocktail.

Whichever fruit you choose, fresh berries generally produce the cleanest flavour and brightest colour. Frozen berries can certainly work in a pinch, but allow them to thaw first so they muddle more easily and release their juices.

Violet French 75 with strawberries, gin, lemon, and sparkling wine

How to Make a Violet French 75 with Strawberries

Making this strawberry French 75 with crème de violette couldn’t be easier. Simply muddle the strawberries, shake them with the gin, fresh lemon juice, and violet liqueur until well chilled, then strain into a Champagne flute or coupe. Top with chilled sparkling wine, garnish with a fresh strawberry or lemon twist, and serve immediately while the bubbles are still vibrant.

Expert Tips for the Best Strawberry Violet French 75

Even though this strawberry French 75 recipe is wonderfully simple, a few small details will help you create a cocktail that’s balanced, refreshing, and worthy of a good cocktail bar.

Use ripe, flavourful strawberries – Since fresh strawberries are one of the main ingredients, choose berries that are sweet and fragrant. Out-of-season strawberries can make the cocktail taste watery.
Don’t overdo the violet liqueur – Crème de violette should complement the strawberries rather than dominate them. Start with a bar spoon, then add a little more if you enjoy a stronger floral profile.
Always use fresh lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the bright acidity that balances the fruit and sparkling wine far better than bottled juice.
Shake before adding the sparkling wine – Shake the gin, strawberries, lemon juice, and crème de violette with ice, then strain before topping with sparkling wine. Never shake the sparkling wine itself.
Keep everything well chilled – Cold gin, chilled sparkling wine, and a properly chilled glass help preserve the bubbles and keep the cocktail crisp.
Double-strain for a smoother cocktail – If you prefer an elegant, restaurant-style presentation, strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove strawberry seeds and small pieces of fruit.
Serve immediately – Like any French 75 cocktail, this drink is at its best while the sparkling wine is lively and effervescent.

More Summer Cocktails You’ll Love

If you enjoy this strawberry French 75, here are a few more refreshing summer cocktail recipes to add to your list:

I’d love for you to try this strawberry French 75 with violet liqueur. If you give it a go, please share your results in the comments, message me on Instagram, or post your photos with the hashtag #havocinthekitchen. I look forward to seeing your creations and hearing your thoughts.

Cheers!

Strawberry French 75 with violet liqueur and muddled fresh strawberries

Strawberry French 75 recipe with fresh strawberries and sparkling wine

Strawberry French 75 with crème de violette