French Connection

Recently, I have been becoming more and more a fan of amaretto.  I enjoyed amaretto before, but recently I have been finding myself making more and more drinks with it.  The sweet nutty flavor of the amaretto has been intoxicating.  I have been looking through my different liquor recipe books to find new recipes.  That is how I found out the French Connection cocktail.

It seems that the history behind the French Connection drink is lost in the annals of history.  However when you take a look at the ingredients, it is somewhat easy to see the connection.  The French contributed to the drink with the addition of cognac, while, the Italians added amaretto. 

The French Connection conjures up images of men smoking cigars, wearing fedoras, and looking cool and dapper.  This drink epitomizes coolness.  It is a simple yet sophisticated.  In the recent months, it has become of my favorite nightcaps. 

The French Connection comprises of two ingredients: cognac and amaretto.  When making this drink, I suggest using a good aged cognac like a VSOP.  VSOP stands for Very Superior (Special) Old Pale.  For a cognac to receive this designation, it has to aged for 4 to 6 years.  A VSOP will give the drink a deeper richer flavor to the drink.  The other main ingredient of the French Connection is amaretto.  Amaretto is an Italian liqueur that is made from almonds and/or apricot pits.  Amaretto is bittersweet.  It has a unique sweet bouquet which will be present in this drink.  The combination of cognac and amaretto is complex yet simple.  The warming cognac will blend well into the distinctive nutty flavor of the amaretto.  

French Connection

30 ml of a good quality cognac (a VSOP would work nice)

30 ml of amaretto

Fill an Old-fashioned glass with ice.

Pour the cognac and amaretto into the chilled glass.

Stir a few times gently to dilute the drink and for the bouquets of the cognac and the amaretto to be released from the glass.

Serve.

Cheers!