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The French Martini is a flavored addition to the martini family, with vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur making for one sweet, fruity cocktail. It’s a drink with a retro feel, yet it’s relatively new among the long list of vodka-based flavored martinis. And ironically, it’s actually rooted in New York City’s deep tradition of introducing popular cocktails, even though its name might lead you to believe the drink originated in Paris.
Bar Tools
- Shaker
- Strainer
- Jigger
To Serve: in a martini glass
Ingredients
- 2 oz. vodka
- 1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice
- 1/2 oz Chambord (or other raspberry or blackberry liqueur)
To Garnish: with a lemon twist or pineapple wedge
How to Make
Pour vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord into a shaker filled with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a pineapple slice.
Nutritional Facts and ABV
- ABV (alcohol by volume): 17%
- Calories: 200 calories
- Total carbohydrates: 13.65 grams
- Total added sugar: 12.7 grams
History
The French Martini’s name comes from its use of raspberry and blackberry liqueur — a popular liqueur that boasts a number of French labels and brands. It’s also not even a martini, to be honest, as it doesn’t use vermouth. But in the 1980s, when the drink first rose to popularity, a boom of flavored drinks got their “martini” monikers thanks to sharing their traditional glassware.
A popular bar and restaurant owner from London named Keith McNally is credited for being the first to put the French Martini on his menus in New York City. McNally’s establishments are said to have attracted the likes of celebrities like Andy Warhol and the Rolling Stones in Manhattan’s nightlife scene, which may not have directly contributed to the popularity of the French Martini in the 80s and 90s, but it certainly vouches for the kind of cultural influence a favorite cocktail at one of McNally’s bars could have. By the late 1990s, French Martinis were highlighted in advertising campaigns for big spirit and liqueur brands like Chambord and Absolut, solidifying the drink as a cultural phenomenon.
FAQ
Can I substitute the liqueur for raspberry or blackberry-flavored vodka?
Flavored spirits are never the same thing as their liqueur counterparts. Liqueurs have a lower alcohol content, are significantly sweeter than liquors, and are used specifically to complement liquors by balancing out their flavors within mixed drinks. A flavored vodka could be a great choice within your own French Martini, but it wouldn’t work all that well in place of a raspberry liqueur.
Is there another base liquor that could be used in this recipe?
There are several martinis that dropped the French Martini’s vodka base in favor of another liquor. For example, the Very French Martini uses cognac instead of vodka. A French Daquiri uses rum with a touch of lime juice. A Mexican Martini incorporates tequila in favor of vodka, and the list goes on. If you have a particular favorite spirit other than vodka, this base recipe works well in several forms.
