Toasted Old Fashioned Godfather
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 32.4% ABV ∙
The Toasted Old Fashioned Godfather blends rye and bourbon with amaretto and Angostura bitters, stirred and finished with a toasted almond. Silky and warming, with a nutty sweetness that softens the sturdy whiskey backbone into a long, gently spiced finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: Rye whiskey 30 mlBourbon 30 mlAmaretto liqueur 15 mlAngostura aromatic bitters 2 dashes
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a toasted almond
Tips
- Pre-chill the glass before straining so the drink doesn't lose its chill on contact with warm glass.
- Stir for about 30 seconds over ice to chill and dilute the two whiskies without bruising them.
- Toast the almond garnish just before serving; the warm, nutty aroma carries the amaretto note into each sip.
History
The Toasted Old Fashioned Godfather is a modern riff created in June 2016 at The Cabinet Room, a bar in London, England. It reworks the classic Godfather by splitting the whiskey base into rye and bourbon, adding aromatic bitters in an Old Fashioned-style build, and finishing with a garnish of toasted almonds that echoes the amaretto's nutty character.
The Godfather itself is a simple two-ingredient highball of whiskey and amaretto that first appeared on cocktail menus in the early 1970s. Its creator was never identified, and the drink's name and popularity are generally linked to the 1972 film The Godfather, though its origins are otherwise undocumented and its invention has long been described as a mystery even by amaretto producers themselves.
FAQ
What's the difference between a Godfather and an Old Fashioned?
A Godfather is traditionally just Scotch whisky and amaretto over ice, while an Old Fashioned is spirit, sugar, and bitters stirred with ice. This drink merges the two ideas, using rye and bourbon in place of Scotch, amaretto in place of sugar syrup, and Angostura bitters for the Old Fashioned's classic bitter edge.
How do you make a Toasted Old Fashioned Godfather?
Stir rye whiskey, bourbon, amaretto liqueur, and Angostura bitters with ice, then strain into a pre-chilled old-fashioned glass filled with ice and garnish with a toasted almond. The two whiskies give it backbone while the amaretto adds a soft, nutty sweetness in place of sugar.
