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Paris Bar Celebrates Iconic French 75 Cocktail
21 Oct
Summary
- Paris's Harry's Bar will host a French 75 celebration.
- The event honors a cocktail with disputed origins.
- Paris and New Orleans bars collaborate for the event.
Harry's Bar in Paris, a legendary establishment known for its cocktail innovations, is set to host a unique event on October 24. The bar will be temporarily renamed "Harry's New Orleans" to honor the French 75, a celebrated cocktail with contested origins between Paris and New Orleans.
The French 75, or "Soixante-Quinze," is rumored to be named after a WWI field gun. Its recipe has evolved over time, with its popularization attributed to Harry MacElhone at his Paris bar in the 1920s. Early versions included calvados, gin, absinthe, and grenadine, while contemporary recipes often feature champagne, gin, absinthe, sugar, and lemon juice.
In contrast, Arnaud's French 75 Bar in New Orleans uses cognac, which they claim is the original rendition. This event on October 24 is particularly significant as it precedes the NFL game at Stade de France between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers, a historic first for France.
Franz-Arthur MacElhone, representing the family that has owned Harry's New York Bar since 1923, will collaborate with New Orleans' award-winning bars, Jewel of the South and Cure. This partnership aims to celebrate the distinct Parisian and New Orleans interpretations of the French 75.
Cure founder Neal Bodenheimer noted the strong connection between New Orleans and Paris, stating that for cocktail enthusiasts, Harry's New York Bar is a significant site. The event will showcase two distinct French 75 variations: one with cognac from Maison Ferrand, favored in New Orleans, and Harry's classic version using French Citadelle Gin.
