New York City (1980s–90s) · American
French Martini (Vodka, Chambord & Pineapple)
The fruity, frothy 'martini' of the 1980s: vodka with black-raspberry Chambord and fresh pineapple juice, shaken hard and served up under a delicate foam. Deep pink, lightly sweet and pure retro glamour.
Published July 11, 2026
Cultural context
The French Martini is a child of the 1980s New York cocktail scene, created to promote Chambord — the French black-raspberry liqueur that gives the drink its name and its deep pink colour. It's a 'martini' only by silhouette: served up in the iconic glass, but built on vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice rather than vermouth. Shaken hard, the fresh pineapple throws a delicate foam on top. Glamorous, fruity and forgiving, it's the gateway 'tini.'
The French Martini is the fruity, frothy ‘martini’ of the 1980s: vodka with black-raspberry Chambord and fresh pineapple juice, shaken hard and served up under a delicate foam. Deep pink, lightly sweet and pure retro glamour — a ‘martini’ by silhouette, not by recipe.
A ‘tini,’ not a true Martini
No gin, no vermouth — just vodka, Chambord and pineapple, served up in the iconic glass. It belongs to the modern ‘-tini’ wing alongside the Espresso Martini and Cosmo.
Fresh pineapple makes the foam
The signature frothy cap comes from shaking fresh pineapple juice hard. Canned juice won’t froth the same way — use fresh.
One of the martini family
Fruity and liqueur-led, it sits with the Espresso Martini and Cosmopolitan in the martini family — united by the glass, not the gin.
Ingredients
- 45 ml (1 1/2 oz) vodka
- 15 ml (1/2 oz) Chambord (black raspberry liqueur) The signature — it gives the colour and the berry note.
- 45 ml (1 1/2 oz) fresh pineapple juice Fresh is essential — it's what creates the signature frothy top.
- a lemon twist or a few raspberries, to garnish
- ice
Method
Tap a step’s number to check it off as you go.
-
Add the vodka, Chambord and fresh pineapple juice to a shaker filled with ice.
Why: Fresh pineapple juice is what froths; the Chambord colours and sweetens the drink.
-
Shake hard for 15 seconds until very cold and foamy.
Why: A hard shake aerates the pineapple juice into the delicate foam that caps the drink.
-
Double-strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist or raspberries.
Why: Double-straining leaves the foam smooth on top and keeps ice shards out; a pre-chilled glass keeps it cold.
A quick, anonymous tap — no review needed.
Variations
- Raspberry-forward
Add a little more Chambord, or muddle a few fresh raspberries, for a deeper berry note.
- Sparkling
Top with a splash of prosecco for a lighter, fizzy French Martini.
- The martini family
It's a 'tini' by shape — compare it to the Espresso Martini and Cosmopolitan, its fruity/liqueur-led cousins.
Serving & Storage
A crowd-pleasing party and date-night drink. Fruity and forgiving — great for people who find classic Martinis too austere.
Pairs with: Cheese board, Chocolate desserts, Fresh berries, Canapés.
Storage: Make to order; the fresh pineapple foam is best right away.
Nutrition
Per serving (1 drink (~110 ml))
- Calories
- 200
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 16 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 13 g
- Sodium
- 0 mg
Estimated using standard ingredient data. Values vary with brands and substitutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a French Martini actually a Martini?
Only by shape. It's served up in the iconic Martini glass, but it contains no gin and no vermouth — it's vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice. It belongs to the modern '-tini' wing of the Martini family, defined by the glass rather than the classic recipe.
Why does fresh pineapple juice matter?
Fresh pineapple juice is what creates the drink's signature delicate foam when shaken hard. Canned or from-concentrate juice froths far less and tastes flatter, so fresh (or a good not-from-concentrate juice) makes a noticeably better French Martini.
What is Chambord?
Chambord is a French liqueur made from black raspberries, blackberries, vanilla and honey. It gives the French Martini its deep pink colour and its berry sweetness. There's no close substitute, though another good raspberry liqueur will get you in the ballpark.
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