When I am coming up with new recipes for cocktails, I draw inspirations from old cocktail recipes. By looking for common denominators between cocktails, be it reoccurring ingredients or flavor profile, I can create a new drink that embodies elements of both old-school drinks.
This week, I am combining two old and popular recipes — the Godfather and the Amaretto Sour. Here is how I came up with the Godfather’s Amaretto Sour.
The Godfather cocktail, named after the popular American film, is a traditional cocktail with two parts scotch whiskey and one part amaretto, a sweet almond-flavored liqueur originated from Italy. Amaretto also features predominantly in the traditional Amaretto Sour (hence the name), which combines the liqueur with fresh lemon juice and some sugar.
The recipe I use for the Amaretto Sour comes from Jeffrey Morgenthaler, the bar manager at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Morgenthaler adds cask strength bourbon and egg whites in order to bring up the alcohol content of the drink, and give it a nice foamy head. I replace bourbon with scotch in order to play with the nuanced flavor profile of the Godfather.
To a shaker, add 1.5 oz amaretto, 1 oz scotch whiskey, 1 oz fresh lemon juice, a dash of simple syrup, and the egg white from one egg. Dry shake (I talk about the benefit of dry shaking in my recipe for the White Lady) for a bit, then add ice. Shake some more to chill the drink down. Strain the drink over a chilled cocktail coupe and garnish with a twist of lemon peel.
Although I usually prefer to drink bourbon or rye whiskey over scotch, scotch works better with the Amaretto Sour component of the drink. Scotch whiskey brings an interesting complexity to the drink, adding a refined bitter touch to balance out the sweetness from amaretto.
À ta Santé!
Godfather’s Amaretto Sour
Ingredients;
- 1.5 oz amaretto
- 1 oz scotch
- 1 oz lemon juice
- 1 dash simple syrup
- 1 egg (white only)
- Lemon peel for garnish
- Add all the ingredients to a shaker.
- Dry shake to emulsify the egg white.
- Add ice, shake again.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail coupe.
- Garnish with a lemon twist and serve.
Carlyle Pub 