Want to know how to make a French Martini? This popular cocktail only requires three ingredients – vodka, pineapple juice and Chambord. I have included the classic recipe plus a couple of variations.
You must also try my Passionfruit Martini
As another Friday evening draws in, I find myself itching to mix up a lovely cocktail to toast the end of a long, busy and exhausting week.
What shall it be this time… Looking at the drinks cabinet I discover we have very few spirits left other than vodka and a long forgotten small bottle of Chambord. Vodka and Chambord? It has to be a French Martini, right?
What Is a French Martini?
As my husband would say, it is neither French nor a Martini… but don’t let that stop you! This is another flavoured fruity vodka martini much in the same vein as the ultra-trendy Pornstar Martini.
Why ‘French’? Probably because it contains Chambord, a black raspberry liqueur which has been produced in France for centuries.
This fruity martini was created in the ‘80s by Keith McNally during the 80s-90s cocktail revival and remains popular to this day.
Ingredients
The classic recipe contains vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice – easy right? The only slightly ‘exotic’ ingredient is the Chambord and these days you can buy small or miniature bottles of the stuff in major supermarkets.
You can easily find pressed pineapple juice (like Tropicana which is what I have used here) – go for ‘no added sugar’ one if you can. But in a pinch you can also use the natural juice from canned (tinned) pineapple, again the no added sugar version.
I have to say that the original recipe is not 100% to my liking so I have tweaked it slightly. Chambord can be quite overwhelming in a cocktail, overpowering everything else in its wake.
You can reduce the quantity further – as little as a teaspoon – if you likewise find the taste a bit too much.
My favourite variation includes real raspberries which get pulverised during the vigorous shaking and give the drink a much more attractive pink hue. I have also added some egg white because… well, see below!
Froth it up!
How do you make a frothy French Martini? Pineapple juice when shaken creates a creamy froth quite naturally. If you want to dial up the creamy froth in your cocktail (hello Pisco Sour) you can add a tablespoon of egg white.
Dry shake your martini to froth up the egg – this just means you shake the cocktail WITHOUT ice first then shake it again with ice to chill it. Another method is the reverse dry shake which is a little bit more work!
Variations
Another favourite variation on the classic recipe is to top up with some chilled Prosecco, yet another echo of the Maverick Martini.
But you can also replace the Chambord with Creme de Cassis (a blackcurrant liqueur) or Creme de Mure (a blackberry liqueur). I actually prefer these as they don’t have the strong vanilla flavour of Chambord.
How to make a French Martini
STEP 1. Chill your martini or coupe glass by placing in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively fill the glass with ice cubes before you start preparing the cocktail. Discard the ice just before serving.
STEP 2. Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake very vigorously for 30 seconds. I mean shake it like a polaroid baby, really go to town!
STEP 3. Open the shaker and dip a straw in the drink. Taste and make any adjustments to your specifications. Do you need to add a bit more pineapple juice or more vodka?
STEP 4. Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass, garnish with a small pineapple wedge and enjoy!
LOOKING FOR MORE FRUITY COCKTAILS?
Try these classic recipes that should satisfy all your drinks needs!
French Martini
Ingredients
Classic French Martini
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup vodka
- 15 ml | 1 tbsp Chambord liqueur
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup pineapple juice (no added sugar)
- pineapple wedge to garnish
Frothy French Martini
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup vodka
- 15 ml | 1 tbsp Chambord liqueur
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup pineapple juice (no added sugar)
- 1 tbsp egg white
- 4 fresh raspberries
- pineapple wedge to garnish
Sparkling French Martini
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup vodka
- 15 ml | 1 tbsp Chambord liqueur
- 60 ml | 2 fl oz | ¼ cup pineapple juice (no added sugar)
- Fresh raspberry to serve (optional)
- Chilled Prosecco to top up
Instructions
Classic French Martini
- Chill your martini or coupe glass by placing in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively fill the glass with ice cubes before you start preparing the cocktail. Discard the ice just before serving.
- Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake very vigorously for 30 seconds.
- Strain the cocktail into the prepared glass, garnish with a small pineapple wedge and enjoy!
Frothy French Martini
- Chill your martini or coupe glass.
- Add all the ingredients apart from the garnish into an EMPTY cocktail shaker.
- Shake vigorously to froth up the egg white – this is called dry shaking.
- Add ice and shake for 30 seconds, until the cocktail shaker feels frosty.
- Strain into your prepared glass.
Sparkling French Martini
- Follow the instructions for a Classic French Martini.
- Top your glass with chilled Prosecco or Champagne.
- Ganish with a raspberry – drop into the glass.
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