Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavored Italian liqueur. It's the key ingredient that makes this margarita u0022Italianu0022 and gives it a unique, nutty sweetness.

Italian Margarita Recipe - Lulu's Copycats

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

Jump to Recipe

Italian Margarita Ingredients

1½ oz blanco tequila (I used Jose Cuervo)
1 oz triple sec
1 oz orange juice (fresh is best)
3 oz sour mix
1 oz amaretto (served on the side)
Sugar (for the rim)
Lime wedge
Orange & lime slices (for garnish)

How To Make Italian Margarita

Rim the Glass: Pour a thin layer of sugar onto a small plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a margarita glass, then dip the rim into the sugar to coat it.
Fill the Glass and Shaker: Fill the prepared glass with fresh ice. Fill a cocktail shaker about ¾ full with ice.
Shake the Cocktail: Pour the blanco tequila, triple sec, orange juice, and sour mix into the ice-filled shaker. Secure the lid and shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
Strain and Serve: Strain the margarita into your ice-filled, sugar-rimmed glass.
Serve with Amaretto: Pour the 1 oz of amaretto into a separate shot glass. Serve the margarita with the shot of amaretto on the side, allowing the person to pour it in themselves.
Garnish: Garnish the margarita glass with an orange and lime slice.

Recipe Tips

Why serve the amaretto on the side? Serving the amaretto on the side (as specified in this recipe) is a popular restaurant presentation. It allows the drinker to control the sweetness and enjoy the experience of pouring the sweet liqueur into the tart margarita, watching it swirl.
Should I use fresh sour mix? If you have time, yes. A store-bought mix is fast, but a homemade sour mix (equal parts fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and water) will give your margarita a much brighter, fresher taste.
Can I float the amaretto instead? Absolutely. If you don’t want to serve it on the side, skip that step and just pour the 1 oz of amaretto slowly over the back of a spoon onto the top of the finished drink.
Why a sugar rim instead of salt? The sweet amaretto pairs much better with a sweet sugar rim. A classic margarita uses salt to complement its savory-lime profile, but the amaretto changes the drink’s character.

What To Serve With Italian Margarita

This sweet-and-tart cocktail pairs wonderfully with salty, savory, and spicy appetizers.

Chips and fresh salsa or guacamole
Spicy toasted almonds
Caprese skewers (to lean into the Italian theme)
Queso fundido with chorizo

How To Store Italian Margarita

This cocktail must be made fresh and served immediately. It cannot be stored as the ice will melt, diluting the drink, and the citrus flavors will fade.

Italian Margarita Nutrition Facts

(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. It’s the key ingredient that makes this margarita “Italian” and gives it a unique, nutty sweetness.

Can I blend this for a frozen margarita?

Yes, this recipe is delicious blended. Add all ingredients (including the amaretto) to a blender with about 1.5-2 cups of ice and blend until smooth.

What’s the best tequila for this?

A “blanco” or “silver” tequila (like the Jose Cuervo mentioned) is perfect. Its clean, agave-forward flavor doesn’t compete with the amaretto. A slightly aged “reposado” would also work and add a hint of oak.