History & Heritage
“The drink emerged in the early 1970s after William Friedkin's film *The French Connection* won the Academy Award. Bars embraced the equal-parts duo of cognac and Italian amaretto for an easy, movie-inspired sipper served over ice. Its simplicity made it a disco-era staple and a gateway to other amaretto classics.”
Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add both ingredients to a rocks glass filled with ice
Stir gently to combine
Garnish with lemon twist
Glassware
Served over ice in a rocks glass
Garnish
Expressed lemon twist
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Use quality cognac and amaretto
Serve neat or on the rocks
A lemon twist cuts the sweetness
Flavor Journey
Every great cocktail tells a story through its flavors. Here's the sensory experience you can expect.
Sweet
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Sour
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Bitter
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Strong
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Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the French Connection.
French Connection No. 2
Splashes in orange liqueur for additional citrus sweetness.
Changes
Godfather
Replaces cognac with smoky Scotch whisky.
Changes
Godmother
Vodka swaps in for cognac, yielding a lighter profile.
Changes
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Brandy Alexander
Silky Cognac shaken with dark crème de cacao and heavy cream, finished with nutmeg for a decadent after‑dinner treat.
Sidecar
Cognac shaken with Cointreau and lemon, served in a sugar-rimmed coupe for a crisp, elegant sour.
Amaretto Sour
Jeffrey Morgenthaler's modernized sour builds cask-strength bourbon into amaretto, lemon and rich syrup for a silky, nutty treat.