French Connection

Serve in an

Garnish:

Lemon zest twist

How to make:

STIR all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass.

Review:

The apricot and almond notes in amaretto combine perfectly with brandy in this simple cocktail.

Variant:

Godfather

History:

Named after the 1971 American crime thriller film, The French Connection, this brandy-based cocktail is a sibling to the whisky-based Godfather, also named after a film, Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 The Godfather. Both cocktails appear in Stanley M. Jones' 1977 Jones Complete Barguide 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, Jones Complete Barguide also lists "(The) Godmother" (vodka and amaretto) but doesn't include the Godchild (brandy and amaretto). However, in later years the Godchild seems to dominate over 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

Nutrition:

There are approximately 185 calories in one serving of French Connection.