Rises in the East

steps

1. In a cocktail tin, combine first three ingredients with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe.
2. Top with Champagne and Aperol. Garnish with lemon wheel.

From Hot in the City.

Named for a French field gun, whose kick it mimics (or so the story goes), the french 75 has murky origins. The refreshing concoction as we know it today, however, was popularized when it appeared in the 1930 classic The Savoy Cocktail Book. Some versions call for a base of gin and others for Cognac, but the constant in this New Orleans staple is Champagne. LeBas’ variation combines the slightly bitter Aperol with the sweetness of St-Germain. The cocktail tastes and looks like a summer sunset.