the recipe for the best french martini..with vodka and chambord

Posted on by barkeep

The French Martini is a very popular classic cocktail that is both juicy and sweet but still comes with a good punch. Arguably, what makes this drink French is the Chambord which originated in France. It is a sweet liqueur made from raspberries, vanilla, honey, citrus, cognac and some herbs.

There are conflicting accounts on the origin of French Martini. One story is that it has been created and marketed by the company in order to promote the Chambord product. Another account states that it was created at one of Keith McNally’s New York City bars, in the late 1980s. Either way it has been a popular drink since the early 1990s.

Technically, the french martini is more of a martini cocktail than a traditional martini. It is part of the Cocktail as a Martini phenomenon and actually works much better as a martini served straight up rather than on the ice.

Ingredients

  • 3 shots of Gray Goose Vodka
  • 1 shot of Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
  • 1 shot of Pineapple Juice
  • Lemon Peel or Cherry for garnish
French Martini in a Cocktail glass

Preparation

  1. Add ice cubes into a cocktail shaker
  2. Add 3 shots of vodka into the shaker
  3. Add a shot of the Chambord liqueur into the shaker
  4. Add a shot of the pineapple juice into the shaker
  5. Shake to mix the ingredients well
  6. Strain the contents into a chilled martini glass
  7. Garnish with a cherry or a lemon peel

Variation and Similar Drinks

Cosmopolitan Cocktail: Cosmopolitan is another fruity cocktail along the same lines as the French Martini.
Metropolitan Cocktail: Metropolitan is more a variation of the Cosmopolitan cocktail than the French Martini.

Tips

  • If you prefer a sweeter taste, increase the proportion of Chambord in the drink.
  • The drink should be bright red with a frothy topping. The frothiness comes from the pineapple juice during the shaking process.
  • In spite of being around for a long time, the french martini cocktail does not have a whole lot of variations.
  • While Chambord is a preferred ingredient in this cocktail, Creme de Framboise is another Raspberry liqueur that could be substituted for Chambord.
  • Yet another option would be the Creme de Mure which is actually a Blackberry liqueur.
  • I have seen couple of other drinks, that goes by the same name of French Martini but is a completely different drink.