French Connection Cocktail

Name: French Connection Cocktail
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 Oz cognac; 1 Oz amaretto; ice

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PREP TIME 2 min

Cocktail Type

Cognac

Great for

Dinner Party

Difficulty

Easy

JUMP TO RECIPE

After-dinner cocktails are a classy way to round off an evening with friends, and the French Connection cocktail is one of the easiest drinks you could make. The truly awesome thing about this two-ingredient cocktail is that the combination of cognac and amaretto makes a far more nuanced and intricate drink than its simple assembly suggests.

The cocktail first made its way onto drinks menus in the early 1970s, when a movie with the same name hit the silver screen. Starring the enigmatic Gene Hackman, French Connection was a decade-defining action film loosely based on real events and is perhaps best known for its epic chase scene. Gene Hackman’s performance ultimately won him Academy Award, and the movie walked away with Oscars for best picture, direction, screenplay, and editing.

The French Connection cocktail received a similarly warm welcome and remained a firm bar-side favorite for the better part of a decade. Since then, there has been a bit of a lull in its pop appeal, but now liqueur-plus-spirit drinks are trending again, and we believe the French Connection is due for a revival!

QUICK TIPS

A snifter glass makes for a very refined serve if you have it

Pair a French Connection with nutty biscotti for a light dessert

A younger cognac yields a fresher, more fruity drink

An older cognac adds barrel notes like vanilla and spice

INGREDIENTS

MAKE FOR

1 Person

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

cognac

1 Oz

30 Ml

1 Parts

amaretto

ice

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill a tumbler with ice

Add the cognac and amaretto

Stir briefly to combine

Why cognac and amaretto work so well

Cognac and amaretto really are a match made in heaven. The sweet Italian liqueur has up-front notes of fruit and nuts because it’s made from almonds and stone-fruit pits. The cognac then adds a bright, fruity base. These two elements combine to provide a lovely and interestingly complex flavor matrix that appeals to novice cocktail drinkers and aficionados alike.

How to store cognac and amaretto like a pro

When storing cognac, keep the bottles upright in a cool, dry place to ensure that the quality of both the cork and the cognac is maintained. The aim is to keep the contents of the bottle away from air once it has been opened. As such, you could also consider pouring it over into a smaller container once you have used some.

Amaretto, on the other hand, does not have any ingredients that tend to spoil easily. It also likes cool, dry storage spaces, so your pantry or liquor cabinet is a good call. This type of liqueur should be consumed within six months from opening if you want to keep flavor levels optimal.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The French Connection cocktail contains 30.5% ABV, which means it is 61.02% proof. By comparison, a White Russian comes in at 25% ABV. As such, this drink is quite strong and is meant to be sipped and savored.

The French Connection drink recipe first came about in the early 1970s and was named after the film in which it featured. It's quite similar to a Godfather cocktail—the difference is that a French Connection contains cognac as the base spirit, whereas a Godfather contains whisky. Today the French Connection is seen as one of the best after-dinner cocktails.

While France does not have an official cocktail per se, there are a few iconic drinks that are undeniably French. Pastis is anise or licorice-flavored liqueur native to the South of France. This liqueur can be enjoyed pure but is most often diluted with water before serving. The French are also partial to a Kir Royale, which combines champagne and crème de cassis.