(Photo by Nathan Castellanos)

Drink of the week:Local takes on the classic French 75
Where to get it:Hank’s Oyster Bar, Daikaya, District Distilling Co., Convivial

New Year’s Eve is just a day away, and there is no shortage of parties happening in bars around the city. When it comes to celebrating, there’s nothing more iconic than a glass of sparkling wine, whether its Italian prosecco, Spanish cava or top-line French Champagne. It can also be a little one dimensional. If you wish your glass of bubbly had a little more kick, consider ordering up a French 75.

Developed in Paris (surprise) around World War I, the French 75 is the definition of beauty in simplicity. Despite it’s name, it has just four ingredients. At its base, it’s nothing more than gin, lemon, sugar, and champagne. The result is a lively, effervescent cocktail that combines the sweet and earthy character of sparkling wine with the tart citrus of lemon and an added kick of booze and aromatics from a good gin. Word has it that the extra kick is how the name came to be, with bargoers at the time apparently likening the tipple to being shot by a old-time 75mm French rifle.

So yes, the French 75 has a safe place among other classic cocktails. Any well-versed mixologist should be able to muster up a French 75 without too much trouble.

The modern French restaurant Convivial (801 O St. NW) is a good place to start. Here, the classic French 75 is offered alongside a beefed-up French 125 that uses Cognac in place of the standard gin. Like all cocktails on the menu, they’re $12 each, so take your pick. District Distilling Co. (1414 U St. NW) also has a high-quality version, using St. George Terroir Gin. Though personally, I’d like to see their new Checkerbark gin in the concoction.

There are also some notable twists and interpretations popping up on cocktail bar menus around the city. Head to Hank’s on the Hill (633 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) for the When Life Gives You Lemons, Say Screw the Lemons and Bail ($13). It uses gin, lemon-lavender vermouth for a tart sweetnesss, and sparkling wine. For an Asian flair, visit Daikaya Izakaya (705 6th St. NW) and order up a Tokyo 75 ($13) with umeshu (a Japanese liqueur), shochu, lime and sparkling wine.