Alcohology - "The Frosted Cranberry 75"

Send us a Text Message!

Josh joins Matt to introduce Matt and Friends Drink the Universe's official cocktail for 2024 holiday season! Ever wondered why the French 75 cocktail, born amidst the vibrant backdrop of Paris, still captivates cocktail enthusiasts more than a century later? Join us as we unlock the secrets of this iconic drink and explore how it became a symbol of sophistication and defiance.

This holiday season, we're thrilled to unveil our Frosted Cranberry 75, a festive take on the classic that promises to elevate your celebrations. Josh, guides the crafting of this winter delight using Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur and Prosecco, offering a refreshing burst of flavor with a hint of sweetness. Discover our tips for creative garnishing with lemon twists and frosted cranberries, or learn how to whip up a homemade cranberry simple syrup if you're feeling adventurous. Whether you're a fan of the original or eager to try our holiday twist, this episode is a spirited toast to both tradition and innovation in cocktail-making.

The Frosted Cranberry 75

1. Add to a shaker with ice:

• 1 oz Koval Cranberry Gin Liqueur
• 1/2 oz half ounce of fresh lemon juice

2. Shake and strain in a champagne flute.
3. Top with 3 oz of Prosecco.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Feel free to use whatever sparkling wine you like best. You can also mix up the garnish with whatever festive ingredients you'd like. A sprig of rosemary or a frosted cranberry would also work great. 

Support the show

Visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, and more!

Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation.

Visit our merch store

We'd love to hear from you on social media! Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and X.



Cheers, and thanks for listening!

Episode Transcript

Matt (00:01):
All right, everyone, tis the season.
Stuff those turkeys, glaze theham, get them in the oven and
pour yourself a drink.
It's time for holidayalcohology.
I wonder why they call it acocktail.
Yes, I'd like to know moreabout the Avenus Vinafera.
I'm very interested in theterroir.
We talking about two carbon,six hydrogen and one oxygen atom

(00:21):
.
We talking about ethyl alcohol.
In this episode, we're going tointroduce our cocktail for the
2024 holiday season, which is atwist on the classic French 75.
Hello everyone, this is yourhost, matt, here today with Josh
.
Hello, and we're going to betalking about the French 75 and
our twist on it for this holidayseason.

(00:42):
The French 75 is a sophisticatedand storied cocktail with a
history rooted in French andAmerican cocktail culture.
The French 75 is believed tohave been created in 1915 at the
New York bar in Paris by HarryMacallone, which later became
known as Harry's New York Bar.
The bar was frequented byErnest Hemingway and many other
famous folks of that era.
The cocktail was named afterthe French 75mm field gun, a

(01:06):
highly regarded piece ofmilitary artillery during World
War I.
Its potency was said to pack apunch akin to being shelled by
the weapon.
That is our kind of cocktail.
The original French 75 was madewith gin, lemon juice, sugar
and champagne, blending theelegance of French champagne
with the botanical complexity ofgin.
During Prohibition in theUnited States, the French 75
became popular and served as away to mask the god-awful taste

(01:29):
of bathtub gin, often beingserved as speakeasies.
The drink was first recorded in75 in Harry's ABC of Mixing
Cocktails, the 1922 edition byHarry Macalone, and there are
some variations on the cocktailas well.

Josh (01:43):
The cocktail gained popularity quickly, especially
in Europe, but recipes varied.
Some versions used cognacinstead of gin, highlighting a
preference for French spirits.
This version is often referredto as a French 125, while the
French 76 is a vodka-basedversion, the gin-based version
became the standard over time,likely because it offered a
lighter, more refreshing tastethat complemented champagne.

(02:05):
The French 75 remains a stapleat cocktail bars worldwide,
often enjoyed as a celebratorydrink.
Its combination of gin, lemonand champagne makes it versatile
, timeless and reflective of itsFranco-American heritage.
The recipe of the French 75 isvery similar to one of the
perennially popular Tom Collins,with champagne replacing
carbonated water In popularculture.

Matt (02:25):
The cocktail appeared in Casablanca.
In the classic film the French75 was featured in the scene
where Humphrey Bogart'scharacter, rick Blaine, orders
the cocktail.
The moment is often interpretedas a subtle act of resistance
against the Nazis.
As the drink is named after theFrench artillery piece from
World War I, it's also referredto twice in the John Wayne films
the man Betrayed and Jet Pilot,the Matt and Friends Drink.

(02:50):
The Universe official 2024holiday season cocktail.
This year is a twist on theFrench 75.
We're going to call the FrostedCranberry 75.
Josh is going to hit us up nowwith that cocktail knowledge.

Josh (02:57):
Our holiday variation of this classic cocktail uses Koval
Cranberry Gin Liqueur.
This is a product made inChicago and, being a gin liqueur
, it's a bit lighter in ABV,coming in at 30 proof, and has
more sweetness than atraditional gin.
We added one ounce of KovalCranberry Gin Liqueur and a half
ounce of fresh lemon juice to ashaker with ice.
We shook that and strained itinto a champagne flute.

(03:17):
We topped that with Proseccoand garnished it with a lemon
twist.
Feel free to use whateversparkling wine you like best.
You can also mix up the garnishwith whatever festive
ingredients you'd like.
A sprig of rosemary or afrosted cranberry would also
work great.
If you like your cocktails onthe sweeter side, you can
certainly add some simple syrupto the shaker, and if you don't
have access to this particulargin liqueur, just use your
favorite gin and add in half toone ounce of cranberry simple

(03:40):
syrup, which you can make athome with three simple
ingredients.
If you need to make that syrup,just combine one cup of sugar,
one cup of water and a half acup of frozen cranberries in a
saucepan.
Bring it to a boil, then simmerfor 10 minutes, strain out the
cranberries and keep in yourfridge for all of your holiday
cocktail needs.
We hope you enjoy this festiveand elegant cocktail with those
you love this holiday seasonCheers.

(04:01):
This podcast is a production ofUnfiltered Studios.
If you would like to know moreabout joining unfiltered studios
, please visit our website atunfpodcom for more information
oh ho, hello.

Matt (04:14):
Ho Ho Hello holiday travelers! Is your tinsel in a
tangle over your travelarrangements this holiday season
?
Have you lost a child in newyork city and need to get there
quickly?
Need to escape your cousineddie?
Maybe you want to see the northpole?
Or give the gift of travel?
If you feel like your chestnutsare roasting over an open fire
planning your holiday travel,call our sponsor, the Poppins

(04:34):
Travel Company, and they'll helpyou book the perfect trip
faster than you can.
Say joy to the world.
Get ready for Yuletide TravelBliss as their travel experts
deck your holiday travel planswith everything from flights to
hotel accommodations.
And if you're looking to getsomething for me, I'm a size
seven day Disney World vacation.
If you enjoyed this short andwant to spend more time with us,
please check out our fulllength episodes wherever you get

(04:56):
your podcasts from.
For more information about Mattand Friends Drink the Universe,
please visit us atmattandfriendsdtucom.
That's mattandfriendsdtucom.