French Connection Cocktail – Cognac and Amaretto

The French Connection Cocktail is each easy and beautiful; a mix of Cognac and Amaretto named after the film of the identical identify.

This month ‘s Progressive Eats occasion is about French food and drinks. The epitome of excellence in my e book. Un-apologetically decadent and scrumptious meals. After I perused the providing my running a blog buddies had already included I noticed there was no cocktail. Excellent, I’ve been wanting to put in writing concerning the The French Connection Cocktail with Cognac and Amaretto.

I seldom do cocktails for this month-to-month occasion due to a behavior I ‘used’ to have of doing one each Friday however what the heck; I did it anyway!

I’m most keen on each the French 75 and the Kir Royale, each French cocktails made with champagne, however each are in these pages. I wished one thing that I may see in a smoky French bar, not at a vacation desk and after I noticed a reference to The French Connection Cocktail I made a decision that this was it. Solely then did I journey on-line to get some historical past and see what was behind the making.

Because it seems, little or no is understood concerning the historical past of the French Connection Cocktail. Whereas it’s supposedly named after the long-lasting movie of the identical identify that debuted in 1971  starring Gene Hackman as ‘Popeye Doyle’ in a real crime drama, I may discover no definitive story of a bartender in a French bistro who concocted it with a function.

My solely saving grace that actually qualifies this inclusion as French is the usage of Cognac, a really French brandy.

Chances are you’ll surprise although, what about that Cognac; what must you use? There are three most important varieties:

1. V.S. – Eau de vies with a minimal age of two years. Also referred to as Very Particular or Three Stars.
2. V.S.O.P. – Eau de vies with a minimal age of 4 years. Also referred to as Very Particular Previous Pale or Reserve.
3. X.O. – Eau de vies with a minimal age of ten years.

One necessary notice too; whereas Cognac is brandy, not all brandy is Cognac. Cognac is a wine grape brandy from the Cognac area of France (a area simply North of world-famous Bordeaux!). This area is a managed designation of origin, or AOP (Appellation d’Origine Protégée), with many guidelines and laws regulating the standard of all of the types of Cognac.

It means each Cognac you drink comes with a stamp of authenticity, very similar to Champagne that may solely be labeled as such if from the Champagne area in France.

My cognac of alternative for this French Connection Cocktail was Courvosier VSOP. A really scientific motive for it too. It’s what my dad used to purchase for the vacations! I’m undecided I ever tried it as a child however I at all times liked that identify. And it’s good; a very good cognac that doesn’t break the financial institution.

Should you don’t have already got a bottle of Amaretto available, that search is way simpler; it’s an Italian liqueur and a number of other manufacturers make it, I sometimes hold a bottle of Amaretto Disaronno available, the one with that signature sq. cap.

This cocktail can solely be thought-about French due to the primary ingredient and I suppose as a ‘connection’ because it had been to a movie that takes place in France. However it appears French to me; one thing about it, a sure ‘Je ne sais quoi.’

Possibly in lieu of touring to wherever, a lot much less France, I’ll get pleasure from this drink and dream of these days when Paris appeared a risk…include me?

Whereas the overwhelming majority of the cocktails I make require shaking with ice in a cocktail shaker, the French Connection Cocktail is completely different. Elements are merely stirred earlier than being poured over ice after which garnished with a lemon twist.

Only a few recipes name for the lemon twist (or orange twist) however I most popular it. It lends a pleasant contact to an in any other case candy after dinner drink. Didn’t I say easy? That is all that’s required (each elements and directions comply with on the finish of this submit).

• 2 ounces of Cognac brandy
• 1 ounce of Amaretto
• Lemon or orange twists

Together with the variations on amount I noticed an enormous distinction in the usage of ice as properly. Some used ice when mixing after which poured it over ice in a glass. Some solely put ice within the glass. I didn’t even use ice so I saved mine chilly with my favourite ‘ice’ after I’m having a cocktail like this, these Whiskey Stones. They keep in my freezer after which I exploit one stone per glass and it’ll make a drink cool with out making it ice chilly, precisely what I wished.

Should you assume your French Connection Cocktail would enhance with a little bit of water, than add ice to your glass. After I don’t use the chrome steel ice from Rabbit, I wish to make my ice in an ice mildew for massive sq. ice like these. or massive spherical ice like this that I used for a Bourbon and Orange Brûlée Cocktail. I don’t advocate you combine it with ice after which pour it over extra ice; you don’t need it watered down, merely chilled a bit.

This was a enjoyable train and a leap from the kind of cocktails I usually work on. I can think about it might be a becoming finish to an amazing French dinner although…On trinque? (Lets toast?).

Welcome to Progressive Eats, our digital model of a Progressive Dinner Social gathering. This month’s theme is A French Feast, and our host is Coleen who blogs at The Redhead Baker.

Should you’re unfamiliar with the idea, a progressive dinner entails going from home to deal with, having fun with a special course at every location. With Progressive Eats it’s a digital occasion. A theme is chosen every month, members share recipes appropriate for a scrumptious meal or occasion, and you may hop from weblog to weblog to test them out. Bon appétit!