This classic French Martini is the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors, with vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice and a hint of lemon. It’s the ultimate contemporary cocktail that your friends won’t be able to resist!
Discover a New Martini Twist
The French Martini is a contemporary twist on the classic martini. This sweet and tart cocktail has been delighting taste buds since its invention in the mid-1980s.
Featuring vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice and a hint of lemon, it’s sure to be an instant hit at your next gathering! The story goes that legendary New York City bartender Dale DeGroff invented this delicious drink in 1985 while working at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center.
As he was trying to come up with something new for a visiting dignitary from France, he combined two spirits – vodka and Chambord raspberry liqueur – with pineapple juice and added just a splash of lemon for acidity.
The result was an instant success. Since then, the French Martini has become one of the most popular cocktails around. It quickly gained fame as being served in some of the hottest clubs around world during the late 80’s nightlife scene. And even today you can find this delightful libation being enjoyed at bars and restaurants everywhere.
French Martini Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce Chambord raspberry liqueur
- 3/4 ounce pineapple juice
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
- Pour in the vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice. Shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass.
- Add a few drops of lemon juice if desired and garnish with fresh or frozen raspberries on a pick or orange peel twist (optional). Serve immediately!
Glassware
The typical or usual glassware used for a French Martini is either a martini glass, coupe glass, or a rocks glass. For the traditional shape of the classic martini glass, it features an elongated stem with a wide bowl at its top which allows aromas to collect and swirl around while sipping.
The coupe glass also has an elongated stem but with a wider top without as much of a narrowing bowl as the martini glasses have. Both types can be used to serve this classic cocktail, although some prefer using the wider cup-like surface area of the coupe over that of the more unique and specialized shape of the martini glasses.
A rocks glass is also popularly used when serving cocktails such as French Martinis; it’s an old fashioned tumbler usually found in bars and pubs that feature short stems with heavy bases and straight sides for holding ice cubes easily.
Flavors
The French Martini is a contemporary cocktail with a flavor profile that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. It blends sweet, tart and acidic flavors into an pleasant concoction that will leave you wanting more! The main ingredients of this drink include vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice and a hint of lemon.
These distinct flavors come together to create the perfect balance between sweet and tart. On the nose, you get an aroma of ripe raspberries complemented by subtle notes of pineapple. On first sip, you’ll be greeted with the strong taste of vodka followed by hints of sweetness from the Chambord raspberry liqueur.
As it moves across your palate you’ll start to notice sour undertones from the lemon which are then balanced out with fruity notes from the pineapple juice. With each sip becoming increasingly more delicious than the last, this classic cocktail recipe is guaranteed to provide a unique sensory experience like no other.
3 tips for Making Your French Martini
- When selecting vodka for this cocktail, opt for a higher quality option to ensure the best flavor.
- Make sure your pineapple juice is fresh and not from concentrate, as this will impact the taste of your French Martini.
- If adding lemon juice, use freshly squeezed for maximum flavor!
