Skip to main content

Fraise Sauvage

The Fraise Sauvage was inspired by the famous pre-Prohibition classic, the French 75 (page 70). The name itself is a play on words in French, meaning “wild strawberry.” This cocktail uses our EO homemade Wild Strawberry Cordial to create a cocktail in the classic style. We shake together Plymouth gin with fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and strawberry cordial, then top it off with demi-sec champagne. For our first summer menu at Employees Only, we wanted to put on the list a cocktail that would be a crowd-pleaser. Fraise Sauvage is the EO equivalent of the ubiquitous Caprese salad. The flavors of gin, strawberry, and champagne are a timeless combination and showcase how simple flavors can become complex when combined. To make this cocktail without the strawberry cordial, simply muddle a whole fresh strawberry, then follow the rest of the directions.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 1 drink

Ingredients

1 1/4 ounces Plymouth gin
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup (page 154)
1/2 ounce Wild Strawberry Cordial (page 158)
2 ounces demi-sec champagne
1 half strawberry, for garnish

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pour the gin, juice, syrup, and cordial into a mixing glass. Add large cold ice cubes, cover, and shake vigorously for 7 or 8 seconds. Pour the champagne into a chilled cocktail glass and pour the cocktail over it. Garnish with half a strawberry.

  2. tasting notes

    Step 2

    Dominant Flavors: straightforward strawberry

    Step 3

    Body: light, crisp, full mouth of fruit

    Step 4

    Dryness: medium

    Step 5

    Complexity: low

    Step 6

    Accentuating or Contrasting Flavors: hints of vanilla and juniper rounding to strawberry flavor

    Step 7

    Finish: medium with vanilla overtones

  3. Step 8

    Glass: cocktail

Cover of Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric featuring a coupe glass with a brown cocktail and lemon wheel garnish.
Reprinted with permission from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, © 2010 Ten Speed Press. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.
Read More
A fancy-feeling dish that comes together in 20 minutes.
Sticky-sweet mall-style bourbon chicken gets a fall makeover.
Canned pumpkin, you shouldn’t have!
Full of crunchy veg and a miso-maple dressing.
This skillet dinner is a delightful way to use up a jug of cider.
This rustic no-knead loaf gets subtle sweetness and perfect-PBJ potential by trading the usual water for apple juice.
Fall dreams are made of this. Who are we to disagree?
Canned purée delivers rich body and deep flavor, without the nonna-level cook time.