French Connection Cocktail Recipe
Cognac and amaretto over ice. Nothing else, and nothing needed.
- Category: Contemporary Classics
- Glass: Old fashioned glass
- ABV: 30%
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: ~3 min
Ingredients
- Cognac35 ml (1.2 oz)
- Amaretto35 ml (1.2 oz)
How to Make It
- Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in the cognac and amaretto.
- Stir gently.
Garnish
None
What it tastes like
The sweetness is pronounced, the spirit is right out front and it hits hard.
The technique
Stirring. All-spirit drinks are stirred — shaking whips air into them and ruins both the clarity and the texture. Thirty to forty seconds in a mixing glass, the spoon tracing the wall. You are after the same ~20% dilution, just slower and under control.
Glass and ice
A heavy-bottomed, wide old fashioned glass. Wide enough for one large cube, which is the point: a big cube has less surface area, so the drink gets cold without getting watery.
Ingredient notes and substitutes
- Cognac
- Brandy distilled from grapes in the Cognac region of France. VS is young and lively, VSOP rounder; in a cocktail VS is plenty, since VSOP's finesse disappears in the mix.
- Amaretto
- A liqueur of almond and apricot kernel. It is distinctly sweet, so recipes using it either drop the simple syrup or halve it.
The Story
A 1970s creation named after the film, and the simplest possible demonstration of how far almond takes brandy.
Frequently asked questions
- How is a French Connection mixed?
- It is stirred and served in an old fashioned glass.
- How strong is a French Connection?
- Roughly 30% ABV as served — a spirit-strength drink — sipped slowly, and it wants a glass of water beside it.
- Can a French Connection be made without alcohol?
- Simply leaving the spirit out does not work — the body and the bitterness go with it. The 86 alcohol-free recipes in the catalogue are built to hit that balance from the start.
- Is a French Connection hard to make?
- Easy. No bar kit required — a measure, ice and a jar will do.
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Alcoholic drink recipes are intended for those aged 18 and over. Please drink responsibly.