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The French Martini is a contemporary classic cocktail made with vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice. It’s a unique and fruity cocktail with tropical vibes thanks to the pineapple and raspberry liqueur.
The French Martini is technically a spinoff of a classic vodka martini. While the original martini was made with gin, vodka is often used in its place. The French Martini was created in the 1980s by New York bartender Allen Katz. It’s an interesting cocktail that’s fruity and balanced if made properly. Even if you aren’t a vodka lover, you’ll still appreciate this cocktail.
If you look online you’ll find numerous variations of this cocktail with differing parts for each ingredient. The key to the perfect French Martini is striking a balance between pineapple juice and Chambord. You want to be able to appreciate both without one overpowering the other.
I experimented with several variations and came up with a cocktail that is right down the middle in terms of flavor, sweetness, and a subtle boozy backbone.
Ingredients
- Vodka: the base spirit for this recipe. This can be easily adjusted bu using more or less to make the cocktail more boozy or sweeter.
- Pineapple Juice: I like Dole 100% pineapple juice sold in small cans. It’s perfect for cocktails and less wasteful.
- Chambord: a French raspberry liqueur made from red and black raspberries, Madagascar vanilla, citrus peel, honey, and cognac. It’s a nice blend of flavor, booze, and raspberry sweetness.
How to Make a French Martini
Step 1.
Combine vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord in a cocktail shaker with a large cup of ice.
Step 2.
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
Step 3.
Float a halved raspberry on top of the foam and serve. The pineapple juice should create a foamy collar strong enough to hold a halved raspberry.
Tips & Tricks
- Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
- This cocktail is best served in a small coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
- Always double-strain shaken cocktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the cocktail as it warms.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the pineapple juice tends to get foamy as it’s shaken, resembling a cocktail made with egg white.
A French Martini is a vodka martini made with raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice. A classic martini is typically gin and vermouth.
A French 75 is a gin-based cocktail made with gin, lemon juice, and Champagne.
Similar Cocktails
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this cocktail, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
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French Martini Recipe
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Cocktail
- Cuisine: American
Description
The French martini a fruity cocktail with notes of vanilla, orange, and pineapple. It’s made with vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces pineapple juice (I like Dole 100% pineapple juice)
- 1 ounce Chambord raspberry liqueur
- raspberry garnish, sliced in half
Instructions
- Combine vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord in a cocktail shaker with a large cup of ice.
- Shake vigorously for 15 seconds and double strain into a chilled coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
- Float a halved raspberry on top of the foam and serve.
Notes
Chill your glasses ahead of time in the freezer to keep your drinks cooler for longer. This is one of my favorite tricks in the summer.
This cocktail is best served in a small coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
Always double-strain shaken cocktails through a fine mesh strainer. This removes tiny ice chips that will dilute the cocktail as it warms.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 206
- Sugar: 17.7g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19.3g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: french kiss martini, french martini
Love this recipe. I just bought some coupe glasses to make it even more festive!
I can’t get the rating to work but this is 5 stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So glad to hear it Jacci!