I’ve genuinely been loving amaretto cocktails! The sweet nutty flavor is simply too good. One of the most unfussy and quickest amaretto drinks to mix up is the French Connection. It’s a slow-sipping, old-school cocktail that will warm you from the inside out and it makes the reliable after-dinner drink. The aromatic notes of almond in the amaretto paired with the rich flavor of dried fruit and warm spices that cognac has, makes it a great cocktail for the fall and winter season!

What is a French Connection Cocktail?

The French Connection was supposedly created in 1971 after a movie of the same name, featuring Gene Hackman. The actual inventor of the drink is unknown. The cocktail could not be more simple, yet it’s full of complex, bold flavor. The French Connection drink is on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails, meaning it can be used in the annual World Cocktail Competition of bartending. It’s made with only two ingredients: cognac and amaretto.

French Connection Ingredients:

With simple drinks like this, it is always go-to to use higher quality ingredients. Cognac, aged over 10 years, can certainly get pricey, but you can find great-tasting amaretto and cognac that don’t break the bank. My go-to brands are Amaretto DiSaronno and Courvoisier VS. Both are affordable but still great quality!

Cognac – Rich and sweet, with a smooth, elegant finish that seems to last forever. Courvoisier VS is a younger cognac with fresher and more fruit-forward flavors. This particular cognac has a delicate and smooth flavor, with many notes of fruit and the aroma of fresh wood.
Amaretto – A sweet, slightly bitter, almond-tasting Italian liqueur. Disaronno is a popular amaretto brand that’s straightforward to find and works well in this drink.

How to Make a French Connection Cocktail:

The French Connection Cocktail has an elegant presentation and is commonly served in a lowball glass with ice. However, it can also be served in a brandy snifter without ice. The method for making this method is the simplest and it comes together in simply minutes. Here’s the details:

Fill a lowball glass with ice. Pour in the cognac and amaretto and stir gently to combine.
Serve and ENJOY!

French connection drinks served in lowball glasses with ice

When to Serve This Drink?

If you’ve got a couple of minutes, then you’ve got time to stir together a French Connection! Because it’s so unfussy, it’s a great drink to quickly serve at a moment’s notice. Maybe unexpected guests drop by or you decide to have a last minute get together with friends or family! This earns a repeat to serve this drink:

For an impromptu happy hour
After dinner
As a nightcap drink
For unexpected (or expected!) celebrations

French connection cocktail served in a lowball glass

That’s all I have for today! As usual, if you end up making this cocktail, please snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @! I always love to see what y’all are making from the blog!