Say ‘au revoir’ to boring cocktails and ‘bonjour’ to the alluring French Martini — a 1980s cocktail that harmonizes raspberry liqueur, vodka and pineapple juice. Learn how to mix up this elegant libation, perfect for any gathering or evening unwind.
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French Martini recipe
Meet the sassy and sophisticated French Martini, a sweet sipper with a smooth and subtle kick.
Francophiles will be sad to know this pink cocktail isn’t really French. But it does use the French black raspberry liqueur called Chambord, hence the name.
It also features a kick from plain vodka and tang from pineapple juice. With a pretty pink color and a frothy white top, classic cocktail is simple yet sophisticated.
More French cocktail recipes: French 75 • French Gimlet • French Soda • French Mule • French Blonde
Why you’ll love this recipe
You’re going to love this French martini recipe because it offers a perfect harmony of flavors.
- It’s versatile — make it for dinner parties or casual evenings with friends.
- With three ingredients, it’s easy to shake up and serve.
- It exudes timeless elegance — despite only being around since the 1980s!
What is a French Martini?
The French martini is a three-ingredient cocktail that features raspberry liqueur, vodka and pineapple juice.
In the late 1980s, bar owner Keith McNally created the French martini drink at The Odeon bar in New York City.
With a Big Apple birthplace, the cocktail obviously isn’t French; however, the drink’s signature ingredient, Chambord liqueur, does hail from France.
Tools & glassware
To make a French martini, you will need a few pieces of essential bartending equipment:
A coupe glass or martini glass with a stem is traditional for serving this drink. Cocktail picks are a great way to present the raspberry garnish.
Ingredients
You only need three ingredients to make the simple French martini:
- Chambord liqueur: This black raspberry liqueur adds the pinkish color to this cocktail. If needed, you can substitute crème de cassis or Fleur Charmant.
- Vodka: Plain vodka is what you need for this drink; however, you can have fun with variations if you use a fruity, flavored vodka instead.
- Pineapple juice: Believe it or not, the enzymes in pineapple juice, not egg whites, create that thin layer of white foam on top of this drink. Fresh is always delicious, but I keep Dole Pineapple Juice on hand for convenience.
Garnishes
Garnish your French Martinis with fresh raspberries on a cocktail pick. In addition (or instead of), a lemon twist provides an extra pop of color and elegance.
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Try one of these variations on this recipe:
Gin French Martini: Swap the vodka for gin to add a layer of herbaceous, floral flavor.
Flavored French Martini: Use citrus vodka or another flavored vodka to mix up the flavors in this drink.
Non-Alcoholic French Martini: Use a light-flavored, zero-proof spirit instead of the vodka, like Seedlip Grove 42. For the Chambord, use raspberry simple syrup instead.
How to make a French Martini
Here’s how to make the super simple French martini recipe:
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, pineapple juice and Chambord. You want equal parts of each.
Shake super well — you want as thick of a layer of foam on top as you can. Pour through a strainer into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with fresh raspberries and a lemon twist (or other citrus peel).
Leftover raspberries? Use it to make raspberry syrup for a raspberry martini.
Tips & tricks
Here are some tips and tricks for making these sweet drinks:
- Don’t overfill your cocktail shaker with ice! It should be about halfway full of ice. Too much ice causes dilution.
- Shake well — like really well — to get that beautiful white top. The enzymes in the pineapple juice juice need to be invigorated for a thick frothy layer.
- Use the best ingredients. Fresh pineapple juice, high-end vodka and premium raspberry liqueur will elevate the flavor significantly.
What to serve with a French Martini
The French martini is a delicious drink to sip while nibbling on appetizers or while enjoying a fruity dessert.
Before dinner, try it with an overflowing charcuterie board, sweet and salty baked brie with honey and bacon or flavorful marinated cheese.
For dessert, try it with a gorgeous raspberry parfait or any other raspberry dessert. It also tastes great with lemon desserts, such as lemon bars and French madeleines.
When to serve French Martinis
French martinis can be enjoyed anytime. You might consider serving them for one of these occasions. Everyone will love them!
- Happy hour
- Bridal showers
- Bachelorette parties
- Bastille Day parties
- Dinner parties
- Date night
Leftover Chambord? Use it in a Chambord and Champagne Cocktail to celebrate anything.
FAQ
While raspberry liqueur, usually Chambord, is the traditional choice for the French martini, you can experiment with other fruit liqueurs. Try blackberry liqueur, black currant liqueur or strawberry liqueur. Feel free to get creative and tailor the cocktail to your taste preferences.
Absolutely, the French Martini lends itself well to a mocktail recipe. Use a light-flavored, zero-proof spirit instead of vodka. For the raspberry liqueur, use raspberry simple syrup instead. You may need to adjust the ratios slightly.
More sweet martini recipes
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French Martini
ingredients
- 1 ½ ounce vodka
- 1 ½ ounce pineapple juice
- 1 ½ ounce Chambord raspberry liqueur
- 2 raspberries for garnish
- 1 lemon twist for garnish
instructions
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, pineapple juice and Chambord.
- Shake well. Strain into a coupe glass.
- Garnish with fresh raspberries and a lemon twist.
notes
- Don’t overfill your cocktail shaker with ice! It should be about halfway full of ice. Too much ice causes dilution.
- Shake well — like really well — to get that beautiful white top. The enzymes in the pineapple juice juice need to be invigorated for a thick frothy layer.
- Use the best ingredients. Fresh pineapple juice, high-end vodka and premium raspberry liqueur will elevate the flavor significantly.
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Andy says
Loved this recipe! I used to order these years ago and the other day I had the idea to make them myself. Just how I remembered!