Classic French Martini Cocktail
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The French Martini cocktail combines just three ingredients for a classy pink cocktail that has the perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors.
During my 10+ years as a personal chef, this French Martini was one of my favorite cocktails to offer for everything from a romantic dinner for 2 to a 25-person bridal shower. It’s so very pretty in the glass, and it’s also super easy to make. No bartender degree required.
In fact, with a couple of easy tips, you’ll be shaking and pouring in no time—and you won’t spend all evening behind the bar.
Next try out one of my other favorite cocktails: the Hanky Panky Cocktail, this Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail, or a Hibiscus Marg!
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Why You'll Love this French Martini Recipe
- Only 3 Ingredients: Vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord
- Fast to Make: Nothing more complicated than pouring and shaking, unless you want to get fancy with the garnish
- So Pretty: Between the pink color of the drink and vibrant garnishes, this is a standout fruity cocktail.
What is in French Martini Cocktails?
- Vodka: This is a drink with only 3 ingredients, so use a high-quality vodka for the best flavor. I love Grey Goose and Ketel One. Using a flavored vodka can be fun too—try a vanilla vodka, for example.
- Pineapple Juice: You can sometimes find small cans of these in the grocery store. I keep them in the pantry to make this cocktail, and also to use the pineapple juice for a teriyaki marinade for pork. Of course, fresh pineapple juice is even more delicious!
- Chambord: Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur that has been produced in France for over 300 years. Crème de cassis (a blackberry liqueur) would make a good substitute.
How to Make a French Martini
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in 2 ounces vodka, 1 ounce pineapple juice, and ¾ ounce Chambord liqueur.
Shake well for 10-15 seconds, until shaker is quite cold.
Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist or some fresh raspberries (or both!).
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- This is a classic recipe, though different mixologists choose slightly different amounts of each ingredient. Try increasing the amount of pineapple juice or Chambord for a slightly different flavor.
- To make a lemon twist, cut through a lemon to make a round lemon slice. Then use a sharp paring knife to cut away most of the pith and the fruit in the middle so that you have a circle of peel. Make a cut in it so that you have a piece of peel that you can wrap around a round chopstick or something similar. If you can let it sit like that for a few minutes, it will hold its shape better.
- Try chilling your martini glass before making your cocktail—it will keep your drink cold for longer. You can just put the glass in your freezer for a few minutes. You can also try serving it in a coupe glass instead of a martini glass.
- Want to try a mocktail version of this classic cocktail? Try substituting a zero-proof spirit for the vodka and a nonalcoholic raspberry syrup instead of Chambord raspberry liqueur. You’ll get the same light raspberry flavor but no alcohol.
- Now that you've got your French cocktail, how about pairing with some French appetizers for a truly elegant evening? Try my Chicken Liver Pâté or my Baked Camembert, to start!
🧐 Recipe FAQs for French Martini
In fact, this is not a traditional French cocktail, nor is it a classic martini, so the name is a bit misleading. Instead, it’s called a French Martini because it includes Chambord as an ingredient. Chambord is a classic liqueur made only in the Loire Valley in France.
Definitely. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use a jar with a lid to shake up your ingredients with ice (mason jars work great). Then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into your martini glass.
Yes, this is an easy drink to batch. To make 8 cocktails, combine 12 ounces vodka, 8 ounces pineapple juice, and 4 ounces Chambord in a pitcher. Stir well, and chill until cocktail is quite cold. When you’re ready to serve, pour into individual martini glasses and garnish!
The French Martini was invented in the late 1980s by a bar owner in New York City. While a classic gin martini has only gin and vermouth (and a classic vodka martini only vodka and vermouth), the 80s ushered in a bunch of “martini” drinks on cocktail menus. Think an espresso martini or an appletini. The French Martini is more in line with that type of modern cocktail.
Chambord is a high-end liqueur, and if your budget doesn’t stretch to that, I have some alternatives. Try using raspberry schnapps or a different berry liqueur like crème de mûre (blackberry) or crème de cassis (black currant) instead. You could also replace with a non-alcoholic raspberry syrup.
Other Delicious Cocktails
Want more ideas for a happy hour at home? Try another French-inspired cocktail like this St. Germain Spritz. Or try one of these classic cocktails with a twist:
If you try this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to me.
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French Martini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce pineapple juice
- ¾ ounce Chambord
- Lemon twist or fresh raspberries to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then pour in the vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord.
- Shake well for 10-15 seconds, until shaker is quite cold.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist or some fresh raspberries (or both!).
Notes
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this recipe, tag me @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because I’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
This is the prettiest color--and so delicious too!