I love cognac.  This has been a taste that I have acquired over the last 10 years.  But for many people, like my lovely bride, cognac has too much bite.  The aromatic liquor is strong and can burn going down.  So I am always on the lookout for a mixed concoction that will soften the harshness.

So the other night I put together the French Connection:

• 1.5 shots of a middle-of-the-road cognac (I used Hennessy)
• .5 shots of amaretto
• ice cubes
• Splash of seltzer

Place the first three ingregients in a shaker, and shake.  Pour in a cocktail glass over ice cubes and add a splash of seltzer.

My darling bride described the drink as a “warm cold drink”.  But she liked it, and it made me smile that we can now share cognac.