classic mob movie

2 oz Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Scotch (Famous Grouse)
1/2 oz Sweet Vermouth (Cocchi)
1/2 oz Amaretto (Disaronno)
2 dash Angostura Bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with 2 cherries on a pick and with orange oil from a twist.

Two Saturdays ago, I opened up my new purchase of Gabriel Fernando Urrutia's Miami Cocktails book and came upon the Godfather riff called the Classic Mob Movie. The recipe was crafted by Dave Simmons at The Anderson, and its call for two cherries reminded me of the garnish lore of how two olives in a Martini has been considered a warning from the bartender that a mobster is out to get them. Audrey Saunders' Little Italy recipe has been frequently written as having two cherries as a garnish (although not the Robert Simonson recipe that I utilized on the blog earlier this year), so perhaps this was a nod to that modern classic or a similar aesthetic utilized. (* see post note below)The Classic Mob Movie began with an apricot-almond and orange oil aroma. Next, the vermouth's grape on the sip was a delightful addition to the classic, and this was pursued by Scotch, dried fruit, and almond flavors on the swallow with an allspice finish.

Postnote: After writing this out, I contacted Audrey on Twitter as to why she went with two. She replied that she "Always found the whole business of odd number garnish rubbish – instead prefer to go on drink by drink basis. Do we really need 3(!) sugar soaked cherries regardless of how delicious? I think not. Yet one would not suffice. So one for the 1st 1/2 of the drink & one more for the 2nd."