Godfather

Ratio:

Substitutes:

• Scotch Whisky: For this cocktail, both blended or single malt whiskies will work. If you don't have Scotch on hand, bourbon can be a good substitute, although it will give the drink a sweeter, nuttier flavor. Feel free to experiment with any brand of whisky you like!
• Amaretto: Any kind of Amaretto, including Disaronno, will work for this recipe. If you’re out of Amaretto, you can try using almond syrup (“orgeat”) as a substitute, but be careful with the quantity: almond syrup is very strong and sweeter than Amaretto, so aim for half the quantity you would normally have used.

Making a Pitcher of Godfather Drink:

• Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 16 oz of Scotch whisky and 8 oz of Amaretto.
• Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the Scotch whisky and Amaretto. Stir well.
• Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled Old Fashioned glasses, garnish with an orange twist, and serve immediately.
• Bartender’s Tips: you can make large quantities in advance and store it in air-tight bottles. It doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge, but it’s always a good idea to refrigerate it for a few hours before serving (this way you’ll get a perfectly chilled cocktail directly out of the bottle). As the mix only contains alcohol, it has a very long shelf life (at least a year).

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

• Scotch Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic whisky substitute; these are available and reasonably mimic whisky's smoky flavor. If you can’t find any, you can try using the following mix: 1 part orange juice, 1 part ginger ale and 0.75 part lemon juice. Stir well to remove the bubbles from the ginger ale and use as a whisky substitute.
• Amaretto Substitute: You can either use store-bought almond syrup, or make your own mock Amaretto by combining almond extract with simple syrup and a touch of vanilla. There are also a few alcohol-free Amaretto available on the market.
• Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.
• Bartender’s tips: in order to make a rounder, more complex drink, you can add an egg white to the mix. This will also give your drink a smoother texture, with some foam at the top. If you’d like to try, proceed as follows:
  1. Crack an egg open and pour the white into a cocktail shaker. Discard the yolk.
  2. Add the non-alcoholic whisky (or the orange juice, ginger ale, and lemon blend) and Amaretto substitute in proportions of your liking.
  3. Add ice, close the shaker, and shake well (10-15 seconds).
  4. Open the shaker. Using a cocktail strainer, pour the liquid (not the ice) into the other part of the shaker. You should see some foam has started to form on the surface of the drink. Discard the ice.
  5. Close the shaker again and shake well (without ice this time), making ample movements (15 - 20 seconds).
  6. Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes and pour the drink inside. Take an orange zest and twist it on the drink: this way, the essences in the peel will give your cocktail a nice smell and an extra citrusy note.
  7. Enjoy!

Making it Vegan:

• Check Your Brands: Most Scotch whiskies and Amarettos are vegan-friendly, but it's always a good idea to check your specific brands. Some alcoholic beverages use animal products in their filtration process.
• Proceed As Usual: Once you've confirmed that your ingredients are vegan-friendly, follow the original steps to make your vegan Godfather drink.