Godfather
Scotch and amaretto over ice. Two ingredients, nutty, sweet and warming.
- Time
- 2 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Rocks glass
- Strength
- 2.7 UK units
How to make a Godfather
- Fill the glass with ice. Fill a rocks glass with cubes. Large, solid cubes melt more slowly.
- Pour both bottles. Add the Scotch and amaretto over the ice.
- Stir briefly. Stir for 10 to 15 seconds, until the glass feels cold and the two liquids look as one.
- Taste and adjust. Take a sip. Add a splash more Scotch if it is too sweet, or a splash more amaretto if you want it softer.
- Glass
- Rocks glassNo rocks glass? Any short tumbler.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- Orange twist, if you likeOr: Leave it plain.
What you need to make a Godfather
Bottles we'd use
- AmarettoDisaronno is the standard. Lazzaroni is a bit less sweet.Find it on Amazon
- A smooth blended ScotchMonkey Shoulder or Famous Grouse work well.Find it on Amazon
Links to Amazon are affiliate links: if you buy through them, Bar Bandol may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Godfather variations and swaps
Swap the Scotch for 50 ml of vodka and you have a Godmother. It is cleaner and lets the almond lead. Use 50 ml of brandy or cognac instead and you have a French Connection, which is fruitier and softer. For a longer drink, pour any of them over ice in a highball and add 60 ml of soda water. No amaretto? Try 25 ml of hazelnut liqueur. It is nuttier and less like marzipan, but it sits well with Scotch. Whichever way you go, taste before you pour a second round, because it is easy to drink and strong.
The Godfather story
It is usually said to date from the 1970s and to take its name from the 1972 film The Godfather, but no inventor or bar has been confirmed. It is one of the simplest cocktails on the list: two bottles and some ice.
The balance is a matter of taste. Two parts Scotch to one part amaretto is a good start. Add more amaretto for a sweeter drink or more Scotch for a drier one. Swap the Scotch for bourbon and it gets sweeter and rounder.
Godfather: your questions answered
What is in a Godfather?
A Godfather is made with 50 ml Blended Scotch whisky and 25 ml amaretto. Garnish: orange twist, if you like.
How strong is a Godfather?
Made to this recipe, a Godfather contains about 2.7 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Godfather in?
Serve a Godfather in a rocks glass over ice. No rocks glass? Any short tumbler.
