French Connection

History

Named after the 1971 American crime thriller film, The French Connection, this brandy-based cocktail is a sibling of the better-known Scotch whisky-based Godfather. Both cocktails, along with the similar vodka-based Godmother, appear in Brian F. Rea's 1976 Brian's Booze Guide.

FRENCH CONNECTION – "voules vous . . . ?"
Build in an old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes
1½ ounces Brandy or Cognac
3/4 ounce Amaretto

Brian F. Rea, Brian's Booze Guide, 1976

All three cocktails also appear in Stanley M. Jones' Jones' Complete Barguide, published the following year and in Mark Torre's 1987 The Bartenders Cherry.

(The) FRENCH CONNECTION
Old Fashioned Glass
Build
Fill with ice
1-1/2 oz Cognac or brandy
3/4 oz Amaretto

Stanley M. Jones, 1977

Interestingly, while Jones Complete Barguide lists the "(The) Godmother" (vodka and amaretto) it doesn't include the Godchild (brandy and amaretto). However, in later years the Godchild seems to have largely replaced the very similar French Connection. Indeed, like the films, the "God" cocktail trilogy have proved more enduring than the French Connection.

According to The Bartenders Cherry, the difference between a Godchild and a French Connection is that a Godchild is made with brandy of unstipulated origin while a French Connection specifically calls for cognac brandy. The French Connection is also served in a "Snifter Glass" (brandy balloon) without ice while The Godchild is on the rocks in an old-fashioned. (It was fashionable at the time to drink cognac in such a glass while cupping and swirling the glass in the hand to warm the cognac.)

GODCHILD
1 shot Brandy
1 shot Amaretto Di Saronno® / Amaretto
Rocks/Old Fashioned Glass

Mark Torre, 1987

FRENCH CONNECTION
1 shot Courvoisier®
2/3 shot Amaretto Di Saronno® / Amaretto
Snifter Glass

Mark Torre, 1987