Vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice — the 1980s New York cocktail with a pink foam head.
The French Martini was created by Keith McNally at his Manhattan restaurants in the late 1980s — Balthazar, Pastis, and Schiller's. It was designed for the vodka bar boom of the era, when 'martini' meant any chilled cocktail served in a V-shaped glass rather than the traditional gin preparation.
The frothy pink head is pineapple juice's natural response to vigorous shaking — bromelain, the enzyme in fresh pineapple, foams when agitated. This means fresh pineapple juice makes a better foam than carton juice. The Chambord adds colour and a sweet-tart raspberry note that lifts the whole drink.
Use raspberry vodka instead of plain vodka and reduce Chambord to ¼ oz. Double the raspberry character.
Add ½ oz coconut rum and replace half the pineapple juice with coconut water. Takes the tropical direction further.
Replace half the pineapple juice with cranberry juice. A hybrid of the French Martini and Cosmopolitan — pink, fruity, and very popular.