Nonalcoholic French 75

By Rebekah Peppler

Updated May 17, 2022

  • Jenny Huang for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Susie Theodorou; Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks.
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Rating
4(970)
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Pull out your finest coupe or Nick and Nora glass for this tart, nonalcoholic take on the French 75, ideal for nondrinkers and those taking a night (or week, or month, or year) off drinking. The key to the drink’s complexity is in the sweet bay-peppercorn shrub, a rich-in-flavor, make-ahead base that lasts, stored in the refrigerator, up to one month.

Featured in: A French 75 for Everyone

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Ingredients

Yield:1 cocktail

  • Ice

  • 1 ounce Sweet Bay-Peppercorn Shrub

  • ½ ounce fresh lemon juice

  • 3 dashes orange bitters (optional; see Tip)

  • 2 ounces soda water

  • 1 ounce dry tonic water

  • Lemon twist

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

4 grams carbs; 20 calories; 16 milligrams sodium; 3 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the Sweet Bay-Peppercorn Shrub, lemon juice and bitters, if using. Cover and shake until well chilled. Strain into a Nick and Nora or coupe glass, and top with soda water and tonic. Finish with the lemon twist.

Tip

  • Most bitters have a small amount of alcohol and, while very diluted, make sure whomever you’re making a drink for is OK with this addition, or skip entirely.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
970 user ratings
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Comments

Patches

We really enjoyed this.... The non-alcoholic version was actually better than a version I made using champagne in a more standard French 75 configuration. I agree with the concern about too much sugar and was thinking about alternatives, but the sugar itself seems essential to drawing the oils out of the rinds when making the shrub. The blend of the herbs and the citrus oil and the cloves is subtly spicy and lovely. Thank you n y t!

Scott

Good, but to make it REALLY good you have to almost double the peppercorns, bay leaf, and cloves. As written, they just get obliterated by the citrus.

Divine

San Pellegrino and other Italian companies make non-alcoholic bitters. Check with your local Italian grocer.

Carrie

Surprisingly delicious! You don’t really miss the alcohol. We are trying to be good…yummy, complex NA cocktails make it a whole lot easier! The bitters really make a difference.

Anna

Delicious! For less sugar and cleaner flavors of citrus and herbs I skip the tonic and just sub extra soda.

Wilma

Any recipes for a non-alcoholic Manhattan?

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