Italian Margarita Recipe Recipe

This Italian Margarita Recipe is a sweet and tart recipe, which is made with blanco tequila and amaretto. It’s a creative twist on the classic, ready in about 5 minutes.

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Italian Margarita Recipe Ingredients Recipe

1½ oz blanco tequila
1 oz triple sec
1 oz orange juice (fresh is ideal)
3 oz sour mix
1 oz amaretto (add last)
Sugar (for the rim)
1 orange slice
1 lime slice
Lime wedge (for rimming)

How To Make Italian Margarita Recipe

Prep the Glass: Pour a thin layer of sugar onto a small plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass or margarita glass. Dip the wet rim into the sugar to coat it evenly.
Fill the Shaker: Fill a cocktail shaker about 3/4 full with ice.
Combine Ingredients: Pour the blanco tequila, triple sec, orange juice, and sour mix into the shaker over the ice.
Shake Vigorously: Secure the lid and shake hard for 15-20 seconds. The shaker should become frosty on the outside.
Strain and Garnish: Strain the margarita mixture into your prepared, sugar-rimmed glass. You can add fresh ice to the glass if you like.
Float the Amaretto: Gently and slowly pour the 1 oz of amaretto over the back of a spoon onto the top of the drink. This creates a “float,” allowing the amaretto to slowly sink and mix.
Garnish: Garnish the glass with the orange slice and lime slice. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips Recipe

Why add the amaretto last? Pouring the amaretto as a “floater” at the end looks beautiful and allows the drinker to taste the amaretto’s sweet almond flavor first, which then blends with the tart margarita as they drink it.
How can I make this drink less sweet? This is a sweet-style margarita. To reduce the sugar, you can use less sour mix and substitute it with fresh lime juice. A homemade sour mix (equal parts sugar, water, and lime juice) will also taste much fresher than a store-bought one.
What if I don’t have blanco tequila? A reposado tequila will also work well. It has a slightly richer, smoother flavor from being aged, which pairs nicely with the sweet amaretto.
Can I blend this drink? Yes, this recipe works great as a frozen margarita. Add all ingredients (including the amaretto) to a blender with 1-2 cups of ice and blend until smooth.

What To Serve With Italian Margarita Recipe

This cocktail is a perfect aperitif or party drink. It pairs wonderfully with light, salty, and slightly spicy appetizers.

Chips and salsa
Fresh guacamole
Spicy toasted almonds or mixed nuts
Queso fundido
Caprese skewers (to lean into the “Italian” theme)

How To Store Italian Margarita Recipe

This cocktail is a single-serving drink that is meant to be made fresh and served immediately. It cannot be stored, as the ice will melt and the citrus will lose its bright flavor.

Italian Margarita Recipe Nutrition Facts Recipe

(Per cocktail)

Calories: ~340 kcal
Total Fat: 0g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 20mg
Total Carbohydrate: 42g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 40g
Protein: 0g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

What is Amaretto?

Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavored Italian liqueur. Its nutty, sweet flavor is what separates an “Italian” Margarita from a classic one.

Can I use a salt rim instead of sugar?

You can, but the sugar rim is highly recommended for this specific drink. The sweetness of the sugar complements the sweet amaretto, whereas salt can clash with it.

Can I make a pitcher of this for a party?

Yes. Multiply the ingredients (except the amaretto) by the number of guests (e.g., by 6 or 8) and stir them together in a pitcher. Do not add ice. When serving, pour into ice-filled, sugar-rimmed glasses and then float 1 oz of amaretto onto each individual glass.