”Revenge is a dish best served cold” – Don Vito Corleone.

The godfather cocktail named after the revered trilogy does it justice. Like an offer from Corleone, you won’t refuse this drink. A simple, yet powerful mixture of whiskey and amaretto.

As with movies, few drinks can withstand time. The godfather fits both categories. The cocktail is easy to make at home but classy transporting you to Don Corleone’s office when you take a sip. Alright, that might just be me. I’m a fan of the movies.

However, according to a few Marlon Brando, the original godfather preferred this drink. There is also a connection between the Mob and amaretto. Most say the Italian Mob played a role and/or influenced the movie, and amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur. The almond-flavored alcohol beverage originated in Saronno, Italy.

The godfather cocktail

This cocktail is a combination of two ingredients: whiskey and amaretto. We chose a Texas Single Malt whiskey since the original recipe calls for scotch.

Amaretto is a sweet Italian liqueur. It gets its character from steeped almonds, apricot pits (which have a distinct almond flavor), peach stones, or a mix of the three. Considering its almond flavor and addition of burnt or caramelized sugar, amaretto is often assumed to be sweet. But its name means “a little bitter” in Italian. (source)

The traditional recipe uses equal parts, but we prefer to let the whiskey shine. We adjusted the mixture to 2 to 1 whiskey vs. amaretto.

Experiment with different single malts, bourbons, and ryes. You will probably have to adjust the ratio based on the whiskey chosen.

Ingredients
2 oz whiskey
1 oz amaretto

How to make the godfather cocktail
Pour the whiskey and amaretto into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass. Stir. A Luxardo cherry or orange peel garnish is optional.

Other cocktail suggestions: old-fashioned, the boulevardier, whiskey sour, rusty nail, and sazerac. Or check out all of the Texas Whiskey cocktails you can make at home.