Here’s a Tennessee twist to an old Champagne cocktail that puts a little kick in your New Year’s celebration.  We call it the Cannon Shiner. It’s based on a nearly 100 year old recipe for the French 75, named for the powerful kick of the French 75mm howitzer gun.

We’ve replaced the gin in this old recipe with a splash of moonshine that adds a Southern kick to any New Year’s toast.

Your choices of retail moonshine might be very limited, but that will change soon enough. If your local retailer doesn’t have moonshine, be sure to ask when they will, and keep searching. Once you have your ingredients, it’s time to pop the cork and get your shine on with good friends!

2 oz. moonshine
1 oz. squeezed lemon juice
1 oz. of simple syrup (or a tbsp. of sugar)
Champagne

Pour the syrup, moonshine and lemon juice in a shaker with enough ice for a drink. Shake for a few seconds and strain into a highball glass. Fill the rest with Champagne, and garnish with a lemon, cherry or orange peel.

From all of us on Short Mountain in Cannon County, Tennessee, have a safe and happy New Year!