A Vegan Take on the French Martini for Veganuary
For transparency, I’m not doing Veganuary, I’m just vegan all the time, but I feel that this tip might solve a problem that the dedicated Veganuary cocktail fan might encounter!
This article is for 18+ only and contains gifted items
A Vegan Cocktail?
When I first went vegan, I expected to rethink meals, snacks and supermarket staples. What I didn’t anticipate was the mild heartbreak of discovering that my all-time favourite cocktail, the French Martini, wasn’t quite as vegan-friendly as I’d assumed. I mean who puts meat, fish, milk or eggs in spirits, right?
It’s none of those, the non-vegan element is honey!
More specifically, the Chambord in the cocktail, (and technically the reason it’s ‘French’) contains honey.
The classic martini is one of the most iconic cocktails in the world. Its roots trace back to the 1800’s, typically gin or vodka with vermouth, served ice-cold in a stemmed glass.
Over time, the martini became a symbol of elegance and simplicity, cemented in popular culture by literature, film and famously James Bond.
The French Martini is a much more modern story. It’s not French, and it’s not even a martini really, but it is served in a martini glass so that works for me!
This fruity cocktail first appeared in late-1980s SoHo bar Balthazar. The original uses vodka, raspberry liqueur (typically Chambord) and pineapple juice — giving a sweet, tropical flavour quite unlike the dry, classic martini, but unmistakably refreshing and stylish. It’s fabulous!
Don’t Panic
The honey might or might not affect your Veganuary choice, but if it does, and for those who have a honey allergy, I’m here to tell you that there is an alternative raspberry liqueur made with natural ingredients that works perfectly, Soplica!
Soplica Raspberry Vodka is available here
Soplica is a historic Polish vodka brand with roots dating back to 1891. Known for its high-quality spirits, they produce a wide range of flavoured vodkas made using natural fruit, nut and botanical flavours.
The team at Soplica sent me a few sample bottles to try, so I was delighted to see the raspberry one, I couldn’t wait to try it!
Do Try This at Home
It is the easiest cocktail to make, but I played around with the ratios (it’s a tough job, but somebody had to do it!) and here I have my findings for the perfect Vegan French Martini.
Ingredients
- 50 ml vodka (use your favourite unflavoured vodka)
- 25 ml Soplica Raspberry vodka liqueur
- 30 ml fresh pineapple juice
- Lemon twist or fresh raspberries (optional garnish)
Method
- Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
- Shake vigorously until well chilled.
- Strain into a chilled martini or coupe glass.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon peel or a couple of raspberries.
Tip
This works for all pineapple-based cocktails – For extra foam and tropical depth, make sure your pineapple juice is fresh. The shake brings out a lovely frothy top that makes this cocktail feel extra special.
Cheers!
By Sally Bendall
