The French martini is a delightful, fresh, and fruity combination that you will absolutely fall in love with. Between the pineapple, the raspberry, and the foam, it's a gorgeous, fun, and flirty cocktail.
The French martini is made of vodka, Chambord (where the raspberry comes in), and pineapple juice. That's it. It's incredibly easy, which makes it a fantastic go-to for parties! It's the perfect drink for when you want to feel a little bougie and sophisticated but don't want to spend all night mixing fancy drinks. And you know we love bougie and sophisticated around here.
A French Martini is a delicious and fruity cocktail made with vodka, raspberry liqueur, and pineapple juice. You'll love it because it's sweet, tangy, and refreshing, and perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening with your besties.
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Why You're Going to Love this Recipe
- It has a fancy name and looks gorgeous in a fancy glass with a cute garnish, making it perfect for bougie vibes.
- The combination of sweet raspberry and tangy pineapple creates a delicious flavor you and your friends will love.
- It's easy to make, so you can impress your friends with your mixology skills without having to spend all night making drinks.
- It's a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in any season, whether you're sipping it on a warm summer evening or cozied up by the fire in the winter.
- You can customize it to your taste, adjusting the ratios of vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice to create the perfect balance of flavors.
- And if you really want to go all out, you can even top it off with a splash of champagne or sparkling wine for a little extra bougie flair.
Frequently Asked Questions
A French Martini typically contains vodka, Chambord (a raspberry liqueur), and pineapple juice. Some variations may include other ingredients like lime juice, sugar syrup, or even champagne.
A French Martini is sweet and fruity, with a balance of tangy pineapple and sweet raspberry from the Chambord. It's a refreshing and delicious cocktail that's perfect for sipping on a warm summer evening.
The number of calories in a French Martini will depend on the specific recipe and the brands of ingredients used. However, a typical French Martini contains around 200-250 calories.
While a French Martini is often called a "martini," it does not contain any vermouth or gin, the traditional ingredients in a classic martini. Therefore, it is not considered a true martini but rather a fruity cocktail with a similar presentation.
What's the History? Where did the Name Come From?
The French Martini was created in the 1980s by a bartender in New York City, named Keith McNally. The cocktail was made by combining Chambord, vodka, and pineapple juice and serving it in a martini glass. McNally named the cocktail the "French Martini" as a nod to the French origin of Chambord, a popular raspberry liqueur.
The French Martini quickly gained popularity and became a staple on cocktail menus around the world.
The French Martini is not considered a true martini because it doesn't contain traditional ingredients. However, its association with the martini has helped to make it a classic cocktail that many today enjoy.
What's Chambord?
Chambord is a sweet and fruity liqueur that hails from France, the land of romance and delicious food and drinks! It's made from black raspberries, vanilla, and honey and has a rich and luxurious flavor that makes it a popular ingredient in many classic cocktails. It's like adding a little touch of French sophistication to your drink, and it's the secret ingredient that makes the French Martini so irresistible!
Ingredients
The traditional French martini only has three ingredients, but we're adding a few more here to balance out the super sweet flavors. By all means, you can make it with just vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice, the rest are very optional!
- Vodka: Vodka is a neutral spirit that serves as the base of the cocktail, providing a clean and smooth flavor that allows the other ingredients to shine.
- Chambord: Chambord is a raspberry liqueur that adds a sweet and fruity flavor to the cocktail, while also giving it a rich and luxurious texture.
- Pineapple Juice: Pineapple juice provides a sweet and tangy flavor that balances out the sweetness of the Chambord and adds a tropical twist to the cocktail.
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice (optional): Lime juice adds a tartness to the cocktail that helps to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients, while also adding a refreshing and bright flavor.
- Aromatic Bitters (optional): adding a dash of aromatic bitters can help to enhance the overall flavor profile of the cocktail by providing additional depth and complexity to the fruity and sweet flavors. The bitters can add notes of spices, herbs, and other aromatics that complement the raspberry, pineapple, and lime flavors of the other ingredients.
How to Make a French Martini
Gather your ingredients: You'll need vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice, lime juice, ice, and a cocktail shaker.
Fill your cocktail shaker with ice: Don't skimp on the ice! You want enough ice to chill the drink and help it reach the perfect consistency.
Add your ingredients to the shaker. Pour 2 oz of vodka, 1 oz of Chambord, 1 oz of pineapple juice, ¼ oz of lime juice, and a dash of aromatic bitters into the shaker.
Shake it up: Place the lid on the shaker and give it a good shake for about 10-15 seconds. This will chill the drink and help all of the flavors blend together.
Strain into a chilled glass: Use a strainer to pour the drink into a chilled martini glass. If you don't have a strainer, you can use a spoon to hold back the ice while you pour.
Add a garnish: For a fun finishing touch, add a pineapple wedge or raspberry to the edge of the glass.
Sip and enjoy: Take a sip and enjoy the sweet, fruity flavors of your French Martini!
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and enjoy yourself while making and drinking your cocktail. It doesn't have to be an exact science all the time. Don't worry too much about getting everything exactly right - just experiment and adjust the ingredients to your liking. Cheers!
What to Serve it With
The French martini would pair well with a variety of foods. Since it has a tropical vibe with the pineapple juice, it would go great with dishes of similar flavors. Here are a few ideas:
- Coconut Shrimp. The crispy and crunchy texture of coconut shrimp complements the sweetness of the cocktail, and the tropical flavors of both create a perfect pairing.
- Pineapple Salsa and Chips. The freshness and acidity of the pineapple salsa are a great contrast to the sweetness of the French Martini.
- Teriyaki Chicken Skewers. The sweet and savory flavors of teriyaki chicken skewers would complement the fruity flavors of the French Martini.
- Cheese and Charcuterie Board. A cheese and charcuterie board with a variety of sweet and savory options, like fig jam, honeycomb, or prosciutto, would complement the sweet and tart flavors of the cocktail.
Batching and Making Ahead
This is a super easy cocktail to batch (and make ahead). Essentially, you need more of the same ingredients. Here's how to calculate:
- Determine how many servings you want to make, and calculate the ingredients accordingly. For example, if you want to make 8 servings, you would need 16 oz of vodka, 8 oz of Chambord, 8 oz of pineapple juice, and 2 oz of lime juice.
- Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher or container, and stir well to mix everything together.
- Cover the container and refrigerate until ready to serve. You can also add ice to the container to keep the mixture chilled.
- When it's time to serve, simply stir the mixture again to make sure everything is well combined. Then, pour the French Martini into glasses and garnish with a pineapple wedge or a raspberry, if desired.
It's worth noting that the French Martini is best when it's fresh, and the flavors may change over time. So, it's best to make it no more than a few hours ahead of time.
Tips & Tricks
- Shake it, don't stir it: When you're making a French Martini, it's best to shake the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker to get that frothy and icy texture. Don't have a cocktail shaker? No worries, you can use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid as a makeshift shaker.
- Use fresh and high-quality ingredients: The French Martini is a simple cocktail with just a few ingredients, so it's important to use the best quality ones you can find. Use fresh pineapple juice, high-quality vodka, and Chambord that is not too sweet to get the best flavor.
- Chill your glasses: To keep your French Martini extra frosty, chill your glasses in the freezer for a few minutes before serving. This will help keep your drink cold for longer.
- Experiment with the garnish: A French Martini is usually garnished with a pineapple wedge or a raspberry, but you can get creative and use other fruits or herbs to add a pop of color and flavor. A sprig of mint or a slice of kiwi would also work well.
- Don't be afraid to make it your own: The French Martini is a classic cocktail, but that doesn't mean you can't experiment and make it your own. Add a splash of orange juice or swap out the pineapple juice for another fruit juice to create a new flavor profile.
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📖 Recipe
French Martini
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz Chambord
- 1 oz pineapple juice
- ¼ oz lime juice optional
- 1 dash agnostura bitters optional
- raspberries or pineapple for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice and add the vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice, lime juice and bitters, if using.
- Shake well until chilled and strain into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge or raspberry, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Determine how many servings you want to make, and calculate the ingredients accordingly. For example, if you want to make 8 servings, you would need 16 oz of vodka, 8 oz of Chambord, 8 oz of pineapple juice, and 2 oz of lime juice.
- Combine all the ingredients in a large pitcher or container, and stir well to mix everything together.
- Cover the container and refrigerate until ready to serve. You can also add ice to the container to keep the mixture chilled.
- When it's time to serve, simply stir the mixture again to make sure everything is well combined. Then, pour the French Martini into glasses and garnish with a pineapple wedge or a raspberry, if desired.
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Cara! I'm a food writer, journalist, and recipe developer. I'm obsessed good food, good wine, good cocktails and entertaining. I've picked up a few tips over the years, and love sharing them with others.
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