The French Connection

The French Connection cocktail is not exclusively a digestif though it is perfect for this role. The combination of 2 parts Cognac to 1 part Amaretto can upon first glance appear an odd choice, but the character of the flavours is quite unique and it is for this reason that I have included the French Connection cocktail. The origins of this cocktail are a little tricky to track down, but the origin of the name attributed to it are not. The French Connection is a 1971 true crime drama movie that starred Gene Hackman, and as this cocktail is two parts French Cognac that’s enough of a connection for me!

The French Connection cocktail is not really in vogue these days as it was usurped by the Godchild cocktail which lists its ingredients as Brandy and Amaretto and is served in an old-fashioned glass over ice.

What I like about the French Connection variant is that it is a cocktail that keeps a little classical tradition in so much as the French Connection is served in a Brandy snifter without ice so the flavour combination is enhanced from endless swirling in the glass without any dilution to unbalance the Cognac.

I can see the traditional French Connection being a very formal digestif which might allow some introspection while one digests their meal, or sitting by an open fire on a winter’s day. The Godchild however is certainly more aligned to modern tastes, and also more approachable at any time of day, as opposed to being resigned to after dinner. For nostalgia purposes, I am using the recipe for the French Connection, but to turn this into a Godchild just pour over the ice into an old-fashioned glass.

60ml Cognac/Armagnac

30ml Amaretto

Stir both ingredients with one ice cube and strain into a Brandy Snifter.