A Simple Lemon Cocktail To Celebrate The Golden State

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A Simple Lemon Cocktail To Celebrate The Golden State

September 8, 2022
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A Simple Lemon Cocktail To Celebrate The Golden State

This sensational lemon cocktail is as bright and effervescent as the ocean views you’ll see driving down California SR75 to sunny San Diego. If you are a fan of a classic French 75 you will love our So Cal-inspired spin. This lemon cocktail calls for dry vermouth from California in place of the gin that is called for in the classic version.  

What is a California 75 cocktail?

Fans of a classic French 75 will love our California-inspired twist to this lemon cocktail! A classic French 75 contains gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne. Our California-grown version is similar in flavor profile but swaps out the gin and Champagne for Vermouth and sparkling wine from California.

The resulting cocktail is light and effervescent, like lemonade with a WOW factor! Consider yourself warned, this lemon cocktail is as easy to sip as a glass of homemade lemonade too.

Vya vermouth - 3 varieties.

Where is Vermouth made in California?

Vermouth has such a rich global history that most people don’t know that we have our very own vermouth origin story right here in Madera, California!

Vya Vermouth starts with a blend of grapes, including Orange Muscat grown at Quady Winery in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Quality grapes give Vya vermouth good viscosity and background fruit and flavor. The Vya base-wine is fresh and clean and doesn’t have a lot of varietal character, which provides a palate for the herbs to make something entirely new. 

How to make a California 75 step-by-step.

The California 75 just might be the easiest lemon cocktail that you will ever shake up!

The only special equipment you will need to make this cocktail is a cocktail shaker and a measuring cup or jigger that measures in ounces. When you are ready to make your cocktail simply fill the cocktail shaker with ice and layer in the ingredients as directed below.

What glass is best for serving California 75 cocktails?

While we love a flute with a lemon twist you can also serve this festive cocktail in a coupe glass with what we call a lemon cheek. Either way, this cocktail is beautiful and festive!

September is California Wine Month; here are a few more ways to celebrate!

We teamed up with California Wines and Visit California to create a free e-book titled Iconic California Dishes to Celebrate California Wine Month and we can’t wait for you to download your copy!

Get your FREE ebook now!

This e-book features recipes for dishes that evoke the state’s sunny and relaxed vibe—all paired with California wine and creative, wine-based cocktails.

Bring harvest home with recipes like Avocado Salad with Hidden Valley Ranch-Style Dressing; Wine Country Chicken Salad; and this California 75, our classic wine-based lemon cocktail with a literal and figurative twist.

Click here score your free e-book!
Two women eating snow cones from long stemmed glass coupe glasses. The snow cones are adorned with edible flowers.

Strawberry Moscato Snow Cones

This recipe for snow cone syrup is filled with the flavors of Moscato wine & fresh fruit creating a delicious nostalgia-filled treat.

Click here to make wine-inspired snow cones!
Pistachio and Moscato Bundt cake with citrus and stone fruit.

Pistachio and Moscato Bundt Cake

Our newest recipe for bundt cake is unlike any other bundt cake recipe you have ever tried!

In fact, this just might be the easiest cake recipe you have ever baked. Just chop, mix, and bake. No need to ice this cake either; you can decorate and serve it with your favorite seasonal fruits and cut flowers.

Click here to bake with Moscato wine from California!

BE SURE TO SHARE YOUR COCKTAIL WITH LEMON COCKTAIL-INSPIRED CREATIONS WITH US BY SNAPPING A PIC AND TAGGING US ON SOCIAL USING #CAGROWN.

Craving more CA Grown goodness? Follow us on Pinterest for fresh and fabulous recipe inspiration!

California 75 cocktail with a lemon twist.`

California 75 cocktail

Meg van der Kruik
This So-Cal-inspired cocktail is as bright and effervescent as the ocean views you’ll see driving down California SR75 to San Diego. If you are a fan of the classic French 75 you will love our fresh take.
4.42 from 12 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 2 drinks
Calories 106 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2- ounces California dry vermouth
  • 1- ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1- ounce simple syrup
  • 6 ounces California sparkling wine
  • Garnish: lemon twist or ribbon

Instructions
 

  • Add the dry vermouth, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into 2 flute glasses.
  • Top each with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist/ribbon.

Notes

Simple syrup recipe: Combine ½ cup (115 g) granulated sugar with ½ cup (120 ml) water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Maintain a slow simmer until the sugar melts. About 5 minutes. Cool completely. Store any unused simple syrup tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.04gSaturated Fat: 0.01gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 14mgPotassium: 98mgFiber: 0.04gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
Keyword CA 75, lemon cocktail, lemon juice, simple syrup, sparkling wine, vermouth, wine cocktail
Tried this recipe?Mention @cagrownofficial or tag #CAGROWN!

Keep scrolling for more recipes featuring Vermouth from California.

Chances are if you pick up a bottle of vermouth for this recipe you’ll want a few more ideas for delicious ways to use it.

Vermouth being poured into a mixing glass.

Drinks with Vermouth and How Vermouth is Made in California

The best drinks with vermouth are actually classic cocktails that you probably are already familiar with. Do you love a Dirty Vodka Martini or a Negroni? Both of those drinks with vermouth grace almost every cocktail menu we’ve ever perused, but there are so many more you might be missing! 

Click here to learn more about Vermouth from California.
Two California-Style Adonis Cocktails with Vermouth and an orange garnish

California-Style Adonis Cocktail

We’re turning our happy hour at home into a California-style time machine, with a trip for your tastebuds back to the late 1800’s when the aromatic Adonis was the “it” cocktail! We are adding a modern California Grown-inspired twist to this classic vermouth cocktail that just might have you considering a revisit to this century-old apéritif recipe in your own kitchen.

Click here to try our California Adonis cocktail recipe!

California-inspired Negroni

While we love a classic Negroni cocktail, some of the best Negroni recipes we have ever tried are simple variations on the classic.

Take this California-inspired Negroni from This Mess is ours for example. It is made with freshly squeezed Cara Cara oranges and sweet vermouth from California for a Golden State-inspired spin on the classic.

Click here for this cocktail recipe!

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