It’s fitting that a book inspired by outdoor adventures amid New Hampshire’s White Mountains includes a drink named for Franconia, a town nestled in the western side of those mountains, known for state parks and ski resorts.
This autumnal drink riffs on the classic French 75. Compared to the gin- and Champagne-based classic, this version takes a “darker, decidedly New England spin,” the authors say, thanks to rich maple syrup and sparkling hard cider.
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Since the maple provides all the sugar this cocktail requires, you want a dry cider to maintain balance. Their pick: Vermont’s Shacksbury Dry Cider—a New England product, ’natch. Bonus: It comes in cans, “perfect for camp packing,” they say. To transform into a zero-proof version, substitute non-alcoholic sparkling apple cider, omit the maple, and replace the gin with brewed juniper tea.
Franconia 75
Adapted from Backcountry Cocktails: Civilized Drinks for Wild Places, by Steven Grasse and Adam Erace (Running Press, 2023).
Ingredients
- 1 ounce gin
- ½ ounce lemon juice
- ½ ounce maple syrup
- Chilled dry cider, to top (about 3 ounces)
- Lemon peel, to garnish
Instructions
Combine the gin, lemon juice and maple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain the cocktail into a tall glass. Top with cider. Twist lemon peel over the top of the drink to express the essential oils, then use the peel to garnish the drink.
This article originally appeared in the October 2023 issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Click here to subscribe today!
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Published: September 11, 2023
