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
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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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
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.
French Connection No. 2
A sophisticated and deceptively simple two-ingredient cocktail that elevates the classic after-dinner drink, substituting Amaretto with the complex, orange-laced elegance of Grand Marnier.
Godfather
Smoky and sweet—Scotch whisky softened with amaretto over a large cube for a simple after‑dinner sipper.
Godmother
Vodka and amaretto over ice—clean spirit meets almond sweetness for an easygoing nightcap.