Godfather Cocktail

A cousin of the Rusty Nail, this cocktail is made with Scotch and amaretto.

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Updated June 15, 2023

Godfather cocktail in a rocks glass with ice — Serious Eats / Liz Clayman

Why It Works

Our version is dried than the traditional iteration, which offers a 1:1 proportion of whiskey-to-amaretto.

This simple drink became popular in the 1970s, though no one's really sure of its origins. Some stories say it was inspired by the famous gangster film of the same name; others say that the Don himself, Marlon Brando, drank it regularly. I don't know if we'll ever know the truth of the tale.

Some people like equal parts of both ingredients, but I find that to be too sweet. The Godfather has a cousin in the Rusty Nail (made with Scotch and Drambuie), and with both drinks, I prefer to mix them drier than the 50-50 specification.

May 2014

Recipe Details

Godfather Cocktail Recipe

Prep 5 mins

Active 2 mins

Total 5 mins

Serves 1 serving

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Ingredients

2 ounces Scotch or bourbon
1/2 ounce amaretto

Directions

Fill a glass about two thirds full of ice. Add whiskey and amaretto. Stir until well chilled, about 20 seconds. Strain into ice-filled rocks glass. Serve.
Serious Eats / Liz Clayman

Special Equipment

Rocks glass, mixing glass, strainer, mixing spoon, jigger

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
193	Calories
0g	Fat
6g	Carbs
0g	Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories	193
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 0mg	0%
Iron 0mg	0%
Potassium 6mg	0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.