The simple yet sumptuous French martini has just three ingredients that make a dynamite flavor combination: vodka, tart pineapple juice, and the sweet black raspberry liqueur Chambord. This frothy and fruity modern French martini was created in the late 1980s and is attributed to the New York City bars owned by restaurateur Keith McNally, the man behind legendary restaurants like the Odeon, Balthazar, and Pastis.
By the mid-'90s, the French Martini appeared on cocktail menus worldwide and had become an essential cocktail in the modern craze for drinks that take loose inspiration from original martini, though sometimes in glassware alone. It has remained a favorite for so long because its flavor can appeal to anyone and it is, quite simply, the ideal fruity vodka martini.
Why Is It Called a French Martini?
Despite its name, this cocktail was created in the United States. The drink's French Chambord is what gives the cocktail its name, as Chambord—a black raspberry liqueur produced in France—is key to the preparation. This martini also propelled Chambord to the highest ranks of popular top-shelf liqueurs and for that reason, for many reasons it was erroneously credited to the brand's marketing department.
The Ingredients You Need for the Perfect French Martini
There's no big secret to making a great French martini at home. Simply choose a premium vodka, pick up a bottle of Chambord, and grab the freshest pineapple juice you can find. Shake the trio together and you have a cocktail with an exciting mix of fruit flavors and a luscious top layer—when shaken, pineapple juice naturally creates a foam that floats on top of the French martini.
Shake It Well
The more you shake it, the frothier the pineapple juice becomes, so be sure to give this cocktail a really good shake.
What's the Difference Between a Classic Martini and a French Martini?
The original martini is made with a simple combination of gin and vermouth, while—as you now know—a French martini contains vodka instead of gin and has no vermouth. The French martini also includes pineapple juice and Chambord. While both drinks are served in a martini glass, a traditional martini is stirred, while the French martini is shaken. In other words, a French Martini has about as much in common with a classic martini as a Cosmopolitan, but that doesn't mean it's not delicious!
It is interesting to note that in some Prohibition-era bartending guides, the French martini refers to a 5:1 gin, French (dry) vermouth, olive, and lemon peel cocktail, much like a double-garnished, very dry martini.
Making Your Ideal French Martini
Though the French martini is often ungarnished, it looks stunning with a lemon twist. And like many modern cocktails, there are countless variations on the French martini, so feel free to change the proportions to make it as sweet, fruity, tart, or dry as you like. Read on for all the details on how to shake up a classic French martini, and check below the recipe for some fantastic variations.
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"Raspberries and pineapple are an excellent flavor combination, however raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice from concentrate are cloyingly sweet. Fresh pineapple juice changes this overtly sweet cocktail into a pleasant and balanced kiss of exotic fruit. This recipe is spot-on, but do yourself a favor and try it with fresh pineapple juice." —Sean Johnson
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Ingredients
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2 ounces vodka
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1/2 ounce Chambord liqueur
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1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a cocktail shaker, pour 2 ounces vodka, 1/2 ounce Chambord, and 1 1/2 ounces pineapple juice, then fill with ice.
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Shake vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds, until the cocktail is frothy.
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Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
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Serve and enjoy.
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Feeling Adventurous? Try This:
Our recipe is one of the most traditional ratios for a French martini, though it's fun to play with the recipe to see which version you enjoy best. Here are some variations to try:
- Accentuate the fruit flavor—Increase the pineapple juice to 2 ounces, use just 1 ounce of vodka, and keep the Chambord at 1/2 ounces for a fruitier, lower alcohol twist.
- Sweeten it up—Make a sweeter cocktail by pouring 1 ounce each of vodka and Chambord and 2 ounces of pineapple juice.
- Swap the vodka for gin—Until vodka really took over, some of the first French martinis were made with dry gin. You can find this version in numerous bartending guides through the mid-2000s. To make it even drier, reduce the Chambord to 1/4 ounce in addition to swapping the 2 ounces of vodka for 2 ounces of gin.
- Replace the Chambord with a different dark fruit liqueur—Chambord is made with raspberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants, and its complex flavor is hard to substitute altogether, but it can be fun to play with other quality liqueurs. Try using crème de framboise (a red raspberry liqueur), crème de mûre (blackberry liqueur), or créme de cassis, a liquor made with blackcurrants that's also very bold in flavor although darker in appearance than the Chambord.
How Strong Is the French Martini?
The alluring flavor of cocktails like the French martini can make it easy to forget that they're actually quite potent. When made with 80-proof vodka, the French martini has an alcohol content right around 19 percent ABV (38 proof). To put that into perspective, the average vodka martini is 56 proof and a vodka cranberry is about 28 proof.
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
191 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
11g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 1 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 191 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 2mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 11g | 4% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Total Sugars 10g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 21mg | 103% |
Calcium 6mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 62mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |