French Martini Recipe - Daily Appetite (2024)

FAQs

How many carbs in a French martini? ›

The French martini is a vodka-based co*cktail. It was invented in the 1980s at one of Keith McNally's New York City bars. It next appeared on the drinks menu at McNally's Balthazar in SoHo in 1996. The co*cktail was produced during the 1980s–1990s co*cktail renaissance.

It was invented in the late 1980s when a New York City bar owner, Keith Mcnally, created the drink. The name French Martini comes from one of the drink's main ingredients, Chambord liqueur. Chambord liqueur is a raspberry liqueur that originated from the Loire Valley of France.

The French martini is a decidedly different drink than its classic counterpart. It's a sweeter, fruity co*cktail with no vermouth, no olive, and no gin—but it's served in a martini glass. Another key difference is the addition of Chambord, a black raspberry liqueur that's a key French martini ingredient.

Is a French Martini the same as a French 75? The French Martini co*cktail is a fruity co*cktail with vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice. It is different than the French 75, which is an elegant co*cktail made of gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, and champagne.

All hail the vodka (or gin!) martini! "Since martinis don't contain juices, syrup and sugar like other co*cktails do, a single martini is less than 1g of net carbs," the blog KetoConnect shared. "It doesn't matter if you're using gin or vodka, on keto you can enjoy both."

Chambord's shelf-life can extend to years when unopened if the bottle is stored in a cool place out of direct light. Once opened, drink the liqueur within six months to a year and keep the bottle sealed. If exposed to too much air, Chambord will oxidize and get an orangish-brown color.

Here's a secret: the French martini isn't French and it isn't a classic martini—but it is a sweet, fruity co*cktail that tastes as good as it looks. Made with vodka, pineapple juice, and Chambord, it was created for famed New York City restaurant Balthazar in the late 1980s.

Why is it called French martini? ›

While a French martini co*cktail isn't technically a martini co*cktail, it has that name in part because it's often served in a martini co*cktail glass. It features the French flavor of raspberry liqueur, and our French Martini co*cktail is especially French, given that every drop of Grey Goose is made in France as well.

The name may derive from the Italian Martini brand of vermouth. Another popular theory suggests it evolved from a co*cktail called the Martinez served sometime in the early 1860s at the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, which people frequented before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez, California.

Origins of the French Martini

In fact, the drink was first created in the 1980s by a bartender named Keith McNally, who was working at the famous New York City bar, Balthazar. McNally created the French Martini as a twist on the classic Martini, which typically consists of gin and vermouth.

Some connect the name “Martini” with the Italian vermouth company Martini and Rossi, which in 1871 shipped 100 cases of sweet vermouth to New York.

Chambord is made from red and black raspberries, Madagascar vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey and XO cognac.

Chambord is crafted through a unique three-step process to blend the unique juices of blackberries, raspberries, and blackcurrant with the flavours of Madagascan vanilla, Moroccan citrus peel, honey, herbs and XO Cognac.

The label "French vermouth" generally refers to pale, dry vermouths that are more bitter than sweet vermouths. The extra bitterness is often obtained by using nutmeg or bitter orange peel in the drink recipe. Blanc or Bianco is a name given to a type of pale, sweeter vermouth.

A classic Martini is made from gin and vermouth and garnished with either an olive or lemon twist. It has a reputation as one of the most popular mixed alcoholic drinks in the world. Drink it straight or on the rocks, this co*cktail will always exude elegance and style.