Classic cocktail · Guided recipe

French Martini

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Vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice, shaken to a silky foam. Fruity, elegant and very easy to like.

Preparation~2 minEasyStrengthMediumabout 19% ABVMethodShaken7 guided stepsIngredients3Martini (cocktail) glass

Highball

In the glassVodka · Raspberry liqueur · Pineapple juice

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Make it with guidanceOne clear action at a time, with timers built in.

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What goes in

Ingredients

An empty clear martini glass with an angular V-shaped bowl and slender stem. — Serving glassMartini glass

Set up before you pour

Use a martini glass.

The stem protects a cold up drink from your hand; the open V-shaped bowl presents its aroma immediately.

Standard size: 180 ml6 oz
Ice & serve: Chill it first; serve without ice.
If you don’t own one: Use a coupe or another small stemmed cocktail glass.

Tools to set out

cocktail shaker
strainer (or a small sieve)
jigger or measuring spoon

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Scale to your martini (cocktail) glassWe’ll remember this glass size.

Vodka45 ml
Raspberry liqueur15 ml
Pineapple juice45 ml

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From bottle to glass

Method

01
Measure into the shaker
Pour 45 ml vodka into your shaker
- Vodka
02
Measure into the shaker
Add 15 ml raspberry liqueur
- Raspberry liqueur
03
Measure into the shaker
Add 45 ml pineapple juice
- Pineapple juice
04
Ice the shaker
Fill the shaker with ice
Why it mattersFill it right up — more ice chills faster with less watering down.
05
Seal and shake
Seal and shake hard
Why it mattersCold hands mean it’s working. Shake until the tin frosts over.
06
Strain cleanly
Strain into a chilled glass — no ice
Why it mattersPour through the strainer so the spent shaker ice stays behind.
07
Finish the drink
Finish it — add a cocktail cherry

Know your drink

About the French Martini

A copper mug, Espresso Martini and clear vodka highball against evening city lights.

Where the French comes in

Chambord supplies the French half of the name. It comes out of the Loire Valley, it is black raspberry rather than red, and the squat gold-banded bottle does a good deal of the selling. Nothing else in the glass is French, and nothing in it is a martini: no gin, no vermouth, no bitters. What the drink borrowed was the stem, which in the 1980s was shorthand for a grown-up order.

Credit usually goes to one of Keith McNally's New York bars in the late 1980s, though which one depends on who is telling it. Wherever it started, most published recipes pour too much liqueur. Half an ounce of Chambord against two ounces of vodka and an ounce and a half of pineapple keeps the thing off the dessert menu, and a bar spoon of lemon juice will finish the job.

Common questions

French Martini FAQ

Why does a French Martini foam?

Pineapple juice is full of proteins that whip into a fine mousse when shaken hard — no egg needed. Shake it like you mean it and strain immediately for that signature creamy top. The "French" is the raspberry liqueur (Chambord).

What ingredients are in a French Martini?

A classic French Martini calls for 45 ml (1.5 oz) Vodka, 15 ml (0.5 oz) Raspberry liqueur, 45 ml (1.5 oz) Pineapple juice. That single-serve spec scales cleanly — the recipe above converts it to oz and multiplies it for 2–4 drinks.

How strong is a French Martini?

A standard French Martini is roughly 19% ABV once mixed (before ice melt softens it further). That makes it about as strong as a glass of wine.

Is a French Martini shaken or stirred?

A French Martini is shaken. About 13 seconds with plenty of ice chills and dilutes it correctly.

What glass do you serve a French Martini in?

Serve a French Martini in a martini glass, well chilled — this drink is served without ice, so a cold glass keeps it cold.

How many calories are in a French Martini?

One French Martini has approximately 160 calories, estimated from the standard spec above. Bigger pours, extra syrup or sweetened mixers raise that number quickly.

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