Key Takeaways:
- The NA Godmother cocktail recipe uses the exact same structure as the classic Godmother recipe, but with non-alcoholic ingredients.
- Non-alcoholic amaretto provides the majority of the flavor in this mocktail, with its sweet, almond character.
- This delicious after-dinner mocktail pairs perfectly with a non-alcoholic bellini.
As the story goes, the Godfather cocktail began appearing on drink menus in the first-half of the 1970s, at the same time the legendary, Oscar-winning masterpiece of the same name was being made. No one is quite sure of its true origins, but ask the Reina family, better known as the makers of Disaronno amaretto liqueur, and they’ll back up the claims that this drink has everything to do with the power and poise of Vito Corleone.
Now that is neither here nor there, as most of us aren't even sure if Marlon Brando enjoyed the cocktail, which was a hair-on-your-chest mix of Scotch and amaretto. What is important is that not long after, mixologists began swapping out hearty Scotch for vodka to create a friendlier, more delicate cocktail: The Godmother.
The recipe in this blog is for a non-alcoholic Godmother cocktail, perfect as an after-dinner dessert drink without the next-morning hangover.
What Is a Godmother Cocktail?
The beauty of the Godmother cocktail lies in its simplicity. It's basically a few ounces of vodka with a splash of amaretto served over ice in a whiskey glass. No shaking. No muddling. Just stir your ingredients, and you’re good to go.
What Kind of NA Vodka Should I Use?
Pretty much any non-alcoholic vodka will do, but since this mocktail uses so few ingredients, we recommend choosing a higher-quality one. We’re big fans of Dhos NA Vodka. It's one of the cleanest non-alcoholic vodka brands on the market, and because it's so subtle and smooth, it leaves room for the amaretto you use to shine through.
What About Amaretto?
Just like your vodka, you want a good amaretto as well. The non-alcoholic amaretto market is pretty small right now, but there are a few brands doing it really well. Lyre’s is one of them. The company makes a delicious amaretto that’s probably the most accurate to the real thing.
The great thing about non-alcoholic amaretto is that it can be used in a wide variety of mocktails and mixed NA drinks, so it's worth having a good bottle on your bar cart.
Non-Alcoholic Godmother Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ oz non-alcoholic vodka
- ½ oz non-alcoholic amaretto
How to Make a Virgin Godmother
- Gather your ingredients, along with fresh ice and an old-fashioned glass
- Place a large ice cube in your glass and pour in your non-alcoholic vodka and amaretto
- Stir until cold
The standard recipe doesn't call for any garnishes, but you can't go wrong with a brandied cherry or two. If this NA Godmother cocktail recipe is too sweet for your taste, you can squeeze a little bit of lemon in the finished drink to sharpen it.
How to Serve a Virgin Godmother
We recommend serving this NA Godmother cocktail recipe after dinner or with dessert. In fact, it’s one of our favorite non-alcoholic after-dinner drinks.
It has a sweet, relaxing flavor profile compared to pre-dinner aperitifs, which makes it such a strong fit as a nightcap.
Pair It With a Bellini Mocktail
Whenever we talk about after-dinner mocktail recipes, we always like to pair it with a complementary pre-dinner recipe to round off the experience.
For our NA Godmother cocktail recipe, that perfect pair is our Peach Bellini Mocktail.
A classic Bellini uses peach purée and Prosecco, so you can build your zero-proof version with Liber & Co. Yakima Valley Peach Syrup and Princess Alternative Bollicine.
Non-Alcoholic Bellini Ingredients
- 3 oz Yakima Valley Peach Syrup
- 4-5 oz chilled Princess Alternativa
- Lemon twist or peach slice for garnish
How to Make
- Add your peach syrup to a chilled champagne flute
- Then add your chilled Princess Alternativa
- Stir once
- Garnish with your choice of lemon twist or peach slice
A Drink You Can’t Refuse
Once you have your NA Godmother cocktail recipe where you like it, you can use that same almond base to experiment with other NA drinks in the same family, including the warmer, Scotch-based Godfather, or the creamy, dessert drink known as the Goddaughter.
For more ideas, check out some of the top recipes from the Moxologie team on our blog and shop our selection of high-quality NA spirits to fill your bar cart.
