FCB: The ‘French Martini’

Regular readers will know about my distaste for calling anything other than gin + vermouth a ‘martini’, especially any drink that is fruity and colored. But I suppose concession must be made for the market popularity of such stuff – usually because they are sweet and often mask the taste of the original spirit. The so-called French Martini is one such example. It is a drink that was apparently ‘invented’ by the Chambord company to popularize the liqueur of the same name (actually, the full name of the liqueur is a mouthful, Chambord Liqueur Royale de France), which is light alcohol raspberry liqueur from France.

The reason I tried this cocktail is that I was gifted a bottle of the liqueur recently and apparently it is to be consumed in six months before it goes bad. Being risk-averse, I am trying to finish it off in six weeks. I have previously made a rum based cocktail – ‘Popping the Cherry‘ 😉 – so now its turn for a shaken drink. Also, with a slight variation – which involves muddled limes – from most internet recipes, the usual sweetness of the drink can be compensated for with a bit of tangy kick.

And since I do not fancy calling this a martini, I renamed it – and pardon my French – Le Rouge Royale

• 2 parts Vodka (preferably Ciroc)
• 1 part Chambord liqueur
• 0.5 part Pineapple Juice
• 1 lime

As is usual with limes, first roll them on the table-top for a few seconds and then cut into small pieces (taking out the white pith and seeds). Place about 3/4th of a lime in the glass portion of a Boston shaker. Muddle with a 5-6 strokes (too much muddling will release the oils in the lime skin making the drink too bitter). Add cracked ice and the rest of the ingredients. Shake for 20 seconds. Strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
(do experiment with the sourness by adding more or less lime).

Also, for no reason other than perhaps nervousness mixed with excited anticipation, I am letting it slip that later tonite I will be trying my hand at bartending semi-professionally (ie. outside the circle of parties with regular friends) for the first time. And it happens to be at a hen’s night ! Wish me luck.