The Godfather Amaretto and Scotch Whisky cocktail, allegedly named after the famous 1970’s movie. This is a simple cocktail is made with equal parts Amaretto and Scotch Whisky. It is rumored to be a favorite of the late, great Marlon Brando, however, I’m not 100% certain about that one. The liqueurs name Amaretto in Italian means “a little bitter”. Although the liqueur is slightly sweet, the bitter quality is why I believe it works so well with Scotch Whisky.
Bitters and Scotch
Amaretto’s slightly bitter quality and subtle sweetness is a great combination with whisky. We’ve been adding bitters to cocktails since the 1800s, these highly concentrated extracts are potent, boozy little flavor bombs. Adding a few dashes of bitters to cocktails adds complexity, depth, and character. The floral notes, oak, vanilla, spice, everything that you love about your favorite Scotch is enhanced and highlighted.
Scotch Whisky
As the name suggests, it is made only in Scotland. The whisky is either a grain or malt whisky, or a combination of the two. And by law, it must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years and have an ABV 40%. I highly recommend the Scotch Whisky Association website for further reading.
My favorite bit of Scotch history is from 1932. Winston Churchill received a prescription from his doctor for Scotch Whisky during prohibition. A minimum quantity of 250 cubic centimeters at mealtime, that’s roughly 9-ounces. Woof.
The classic recipe for The Godfather is simply equal parts Scotch and Amaretto on the rocks. This can be a little sweet for some people. I like it a little less sweet and prefer 2:1 ration Scotch to Amaretto. However, I believe you should experiment for yourself to find that perfect Godfather. A whisper of lemon isn’t a bad addition also.
This is my cocktail recipe for The Godfather Amaretto and Scotch Whisky:
The Godfather Amaretto and Scotch Whisky
Ingredients
- 2 Ounces Scotch Whisky
- 2 Ounces Amaretto Reduce this to 1-ounce for a less sweet version
Optional
- Lemon Juice A very small amount, just a whisper
Instructions
- Combine in an old fashioned glass over ice.
Olley Thompson
Ameretto and Scotch looks Great if it’s good enough for Winston Churchill, it’s good enough for me, I’ll make 3 just for me