Tom Collins Goes French

The classic Tom Collins cocktail is also known by another name. By adding champagne instead of seltzer or club soda, you have a French 75. Recipes vary slightly, but the basics are: Shake the following in a cold cocktail shaker--ice, 1.5 oz gin or cognac, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, 3/4 oz simple syrup. Pour into a champagne flute and top with Champagne or sparkling wine. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel. Martha Stewart has a simple variation. On the Williams Sonoma site, you can find Ina Garten's recipe. Yes, she uses cognac. You can also find Ina's recipe for French 75 in her newest cookbook, "Cooking for Jeffrey."

The French 75 might be a fine way to toast the upcoming total solar eclipse, so read up and rush out now to find all of the ingredients for your fancy Tom Collins.

I'm feeling a bit thirsty. You?

Many variations on the basic recipe are all over the Internet.

If you don't have a tulip glass, any tall glass will do, but the eyes love a champagne flute.