French Cocktail
A sweet and fruity brandy cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 15.8% ABV ∙
The French Cocktail is a shaken brandy drink of Cognac, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur, served up in a Martini glass.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Cognac 60 mlPineapple juice 45 mlRaspberry liqueur 15 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge
Tips
- Keep the raspberry liqueur to 15 ml; even a little extra makes the drink too sweet and hides the Cognac.
History
The French Cocktail is a brandy-based relative of the French Martini, replacing that drink's vodka with Cognac while keeping the same pairing of pineapple juice and raspberry liqueur. The French Martini itself was created in the 1980s at one of Keith McNally's New York bars.
No separate creator or date is documented for the French Cocktail; "French" reflects the use of French brandy in place of the original spirit.
FAQ
How is a French Cocktail different from a French 75?
A French 75 is a fizzy drink of gin or Cognac, lemon juice, sugar and Champagne. The French Cocktail has no sparkling wine at all: it is Cognac shaken with pineapple juice and raspberry liqueur and served up.
