French Martini Cocktail

This classic French Martini recipe is a timeless cocktail perfect all year long with flavors of pineapple juice and raspberry liquor.

french martini kiss in a martini glass with lemon twist


 

Don’t let the fancy name fool you, with just four ingredients, this martini recipe is incredibly easy to make at home! The fresh pineapple juice makes it a fruity cocktail that is perfect for gatherings of all kinds.

It’s a classic recipe that is full of raspberry flavor and great for any entertainer to have in their recipe box. Despite the simple ingredients, this classic martini has a flavor with a lot of depth.

What is a French Martini?

A true french martini is made with vodka, pineapple juice and Chambord. Chambord is the cornerstone of the cocktail and one of the reasons it got its name. If you’ve never had it, it’s a french raspberry liqueur. It’s used in several traditional martinis.

While it is usually served as a cocktail in a chilled martini glass, it also gained popularity as a shot using the same recipe.

The original recipe became popular in the late 1600s, but this amazing drink has only gained popularity since. It’s one of my favorite martini recipes.

ingredients for french martini

What is Chambord?

Chambord is a french liqueur from the Loire Valley region in France. It is a cognac based raspberry liqueur made from red and black raspberries, citrus peel, vanilla and honey.

It has a beautiful deep berry color and a sweet berry flavor which makes it a wonderful addition to any of your favorite cocktails. 

It adds a beautiful pinkish hue that makes this signature sweet cocktail even more desirable.

PRO TIP: You can Chambord at most premium spirit stores. It is a great addition for your bar and is used to make many popular cocktails. 

pouring chambord into a cocktail shaker

How to Make a French Kiss Martini

Making a french martini is easier than it looks! Simply fill a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, pour the ingredients in. Give it a good shake and pour into chilled martini glasses. 

You’ll Need:

  • Vodka
  • Chambord Liqueur
  • Pineapple Juice

Don’t forget to top with classic garnishes before serving! 

overhead of french martini garnished with a lemon twist and fresh raspberry

Garnishing Ideas

A french martini will taste great as it is, but if you want to take it up a notch you can add garnishes. 

Traditionally, this martini is served with a lemon twist and fresh raspberry. 

angle of two martini cocktails with garnish

How to Make Lemon Twist 

Making a lemon twist is extremely simple. Take a slice of lemon and cut around the rind. Then wrap the lemon peel around a straw or toothpick and hold in place for about a minute. 

The lemon rind will not affect the flavor of the cocktail the same way a squeeze of fresh lemon would. It just imparts a very subtle and mild zesty aroma that compliments the raspberry liqueur everytime you take a sip. 

It is also a bartending trick to add something with high fragrance to the rim of the glass so you get a nice whiff while sipping. This can dramatically change the flavor profile of a drink.

side view of garnished french martinis

French Martini Variations

I love a classic french martini, but if you are looking to change things up you can make the following changes:

  1. Use flavored vodka. Try berry, raspberry vodka or pineapple for an extra fruity punch of flavor. 
  2. Add a splash of champagne for a sparkling french martini. Simply follow the directions below, and then top your martini with 2 ounces of champagne or other sparkling wine.
  3. Flavor the rim of the glass with fruit juice. Drag pineapple, lemon or raspberry around the rim for extra flavor with each sip. 
  4. Although traditionally made with tart pineapple juice, you could use raspberry juice from fresh raspberries or even juicy blackberries instead.
pouring martini out of a shaker

Pairing Suggestions

This French Martini cocktail is absolutely delicious on it’s own, but if you are looking to serve it with food I have a few suggestions for you.

When thinking about what foods to serve with cocktails, it is important to think of the flavor profile of the drink rather than the actual ingredients. 

When you choose what dishes to serve, you should focus on either compare or contrast with the overall flavors of the drink.

french martinis with ingredients and garnishes

Complementary Pairing Suggestions

Flavors that complement this cocktail would be sweet, deep, rich berry flavors or recipes that are sweet and contain raspberries or pineapple. 

Complementary recipes to try:

french martini cocktail for pinterest

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French Martini Cocktail

4.38 from 48 votes
This classic French Martini recipe is a timeless cocktail perfect all year long with flavors of pineapple juice and raspberry liquor! So easy!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces vodka
  • ½ ounce chambord liqueur
  • 1 ½ ounces pineapple juice
  • lemon twist and raspberry for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  • Pour in the vodka, chambord and pineapple juice, replace the lid and shake until well mixed.
  • Pour into frosted martini glasses and garnish with lemon twist and fresh raspberry.
  • If you've tried this cocktail, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 197 kcal, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Sodium: 3 mg, Potassium: 60 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 9 g, Vitamin A: 2 IU, Vitamin C: 4 mg, Calcium: 6 mg, Iron: 1 mg
Author: Karen Affholter
Calories: 197
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: French
Keyword: french kiss, french martini
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
side view of french martini cocktail
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.38 from 48 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Questions and Reviews

  1. 5 stars
    I love all the ingredients and martini is my favorite drink. Will be making this over the weekend for my friends. So excited.

  2. 5 stars
    Love a good cocktail with a kick! Enjoyed winding down with this after dinner last night; so crisp and delicious! Looking forward to having this again tonight!

  3. 5 stars
    It is amazing how many delicious cocktail recipes there are! And this one is a great example – the instructions are very easy to follow, and the result is outstanding!