The Godfather recipe
for your table
Place one large ice cube in an old fashioned glass.
Pour the whisky, followed by the amaretto, over the ice.
Stir gently with a bar spoon for 15 seconds until the glass is frosted.
If desired, squeeze some orange zest over the glass and place it in the glass.
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The story
The Godfather emerged in the 1970s, in the wake of the 1972 film of the same name, with Scotch whisky in the leading role and Italian amaretto as its co-star, precisely the combination suggested by the title. It is one of the few modern cocktails to become part of the standard repertoire without doing anything complicated, simply because the ratio is right. A whole family has grown around it: with vodka it is called a Godmother, with cognac a French Connection, and with cream a Godchild. All three follow the same principle; only the base differs.
The right glass
An old fashioned glass from 30 to 43 cl is the classic choice, and the shape really matters here. This cocktail contains no mixer, so dilution is your biggest enemy: you want one large ice cube instead of five small ones, and for that you need a wide glass with a generous opening. A thick, heavy base keeps the drink at the right temperature for longer and gives it that familiar weight in your hand. Choose clear glass or a faceted model. With whisky, the glass itself can be something special too.
Stölzle Lausitz Kyoto Tumbler 43 cl (6 pieces)
Stölzle Lausitz Power Tumbler 50 cl (6 pieces)
Twelve tumblers in two sizes together € 69,90.
The right tools
For a Godfather, besides the glass, you use a bar spoon for stirring, a jigger for precise measuring, a zester for the twist, and large ice blocks. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools together € 90,75.
What do you make a Godfather with?
You need amaretto for a Godfather. Well-known bottles include Disaronno and The Macallan. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it pairs with, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Replace the whisky with vodka and it is called a Godmother, replace it with cognac and you have a French Connection. Add a layer of cream and it becomes a Godchild. With a smoky Islay whisky, you get a much more exciting result than with a smooth blend. The smoke and almond sweetness complement each other perfectly. A dash of Angostura bitters brings it closer to an Old Fashioned. More inspiration in all cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
The classic ratio is 2 to 1, but that is too sweet for most people. Start with 5 to 2 and adjust to taste. With two ingredients, the ratio is the entire recipe. Use one large ice cube: less surface area means slower dilution, and you will notice the difference here immediately. Amaretto is syrupy, so make sure to stir thoroughly; otherwise it will remain as a sweet layer on the bottom.
Good to know
The Godfather cocktail and its variations
On a menu, it also appears as The Godfather cocktail, as a nod to the film. Variations have emerged around those same two bottles that are easy to make yourself. A Godfather sour includes fresh lemon juice and is briefly shaken with ice, moving it toward an Amaretto Sour. If you want to serve it as a Godfather shot, leave out the ice, chill the whiskey and amaretto beforehand, and keep the same ratio in a small glass. Without ice, it lacks dilution, so keep it to a single sip.
Fine-tuning the Godfather cocktail recipe
With two ingredients, every half-centiliter affects the flavor, so measure with a jigger and start on the drier side. Amaretto varies considerably from bottle to bottle: a brand like Disaronno is distinctly sweet, while drier amarettos offer more almond and less sugar. So pour in less amaretto than you think you need at first, then top it up after stirring until it tastes right. If you choose a smoky whiskey, it can handle slightly more sweetness than a smooth blend. You can't take it back, but you can always add more.
Frequently asked questions
Which glass do you use for a Godfather?
An Old Fashioned glass holding 30 to 43 cl. View our Old Fashioned glasses.
Which whiskey is best to use?
A Scotch blend always works. A smoky single malt gives it the most character; bourbon makes it sweeter and rounder. Save your best whiskey for drinking neat.
What is the right ratio?
Classically, 2 parts whiskey to 1 part amaretto. Many bartenders nowadays use 5 to 2 or even 3 to 1, because amaretto is quite sweet.
Can you make a Godfather alcohol-free?
More difficult than most cocktails, because both ingredients contribute to the flavor. With 0.0 whiskey and almond syrup with a drop of bitter almond, you can get quite close.
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