Food and Recipes Drinks Cocktails Sumac 75 Be the first to rate & review! Sumac adds a subtle tart undertone to a classic French 75, and a little color, too. By Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani Alana Al-Hatlani is an Assistant Food Editor at Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Published on August 17, 2024 Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen Recipe tested by Southern Living Test Kitchen The Southern Living Test Kitchen has been publishing recipes since 1970, four years after the first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared on newsstands. The Southern Living Test Kitchen team includes a team of professionals with deep expertise in recipe development, from pastry chefs and grilling experts to nutritionists and dietitians. Together, the team tests and retests, produces, styles, and photographs thousands of recipes each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more about the Southern Living Test Kitchen Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Active Time: 5 mins Total Time: 5 mins Servings: 1 This pink twist on a classic French 75 not only gets additional color from sumac but flavor too. (The pink hue also nods to the original version of the cocktail, which was made with apple brandy and grenadine giving the drink a reddish tint.) The spice is infused into a simple syrup used to sweeten, but also adds a vibrant zing to the gin drink. A sugar and sumac rim adds another layer of sumac flavor (and a festive touch), while a lemon twist perfectly garnishes the bubbly cocktail. Ingredients 1 tsp. ground sumac 1 tsp. granulated sugar 3 Tbsp. (1 1/2 oz.) gin, plus more for glass rim 1 1/2 Tbsp. (3/4 oz.) Sumac Simple Syrup (recipe follows) 1 1/2 Tbsp. (3/4 oz.) fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) Ice 1/4 cup (2 oz.) Champagne or dry sparkling wine Lemon peel twist Directions Lightly rub rim of a Champagne flute with gin. Place sumac and sugar on a small plate, and stir together using a spoon. Dip rim of glass in mixture, and turn to coat. Stir together gin, Sumac Simple Syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice; cover and shake vigorously until very cold, about 30 seconds. Strain into glass. Top with Champagne, and garnish with a lemon peel twist. Sumac Simple Syrup Makes about 1 1/4 cups Active 5 min. Total 1 hour, 35 min. Stir together 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium. Remove from heat; stir in 2 Tbsp. ground sumac, and cool completely, about 30 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup, discarding solids. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 1 hour. Rate It Print