Italian Margarita

This Italian margarita recipe gives this classic cocktail a makeover with orange juice and amaretto! This unique twist on the flavors is ready in 5 minutes with four simple ingredients.

Want a simple makeover for your drink game? Try this Italian margarita recipe! Just like a Mexican Pizza, this drink is a fusion of the best of Italian and Mexican cuisines: this time in cocktail form!

This Mediterranean version of the classic cocktail swaps out orange liqueur for amaretto, and the almond essence adds a distinctly Italian vibe. Alex and I are big fans of travel in Italy, so of course we had to try the Italian margarita!

5 Star Reader Review

Great twist on the traditional marg! Loved the subtle flavor of the amaretto.” -Donna Z.

What’s an Italian Margarita?

An Italian margarita is a variation on the classic margarita recipe that uses amaretto in place of the orange liqueur (Cointreau), along with orange juice, lime juice, and tequila. The flavor has almond and citrus notes on the finish, but the beginning of the sip tastes like your favorite margarita. Think of it as a sophisticated version of a margarita, kind of like a Cadillac margarita!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what’s in an Italian margarita:

Amaretto: Amaretto is an almond liqueur that originates from Italy. It has a distinctive flavor that’s both sweet and bitter (amaretto means in Italian “little bitter”). You may know the flavor from the popular amaretto cookies, a popular Italian sweet. It’s worth getting a bottle for your shelf: you can use it in amaretto cocktails like an Amaretto Sour, Amaretto Coffee, or a French Connection.
Orange juice: You can use orange juice from a standard navel orange and this Italian margarita turns out with a warm orange color. But for a brilliantly colored cocktail, use blood orange juice! Blood oranges have sweet juice and a bright pink color.
Tequila: I like tequila reposado for an Italian margarita, since it has notes of oak and vanilla that complement the amaretto. Tequila blanco also works well. See my notes below!
Lime juice: Always use fresh lime juice for the best flavor.

Tip: Use Blood Orange Juice

I love using blood orange juice for the Italian margarita because it’s so eye-catching, just like my blood orange margarita. If you can find blood oranges, they’re absolutely worth buying. You can also find bottled blood orange juice at many grocery stores.

If you can find blood oranges, they’re absolutely worth buying. You can also find bottled blood orange juice at many grocery stores. If you like the look but can’t find blood oranges, a drizzle of pomegranate juice or cranberry juice would work too!

Best Tequila For Margaritas

Many people suggest using tequila blanco for margaritas, but generally I prefer the robust flavor of tequila reposado. Here’s what to know about the best tequila for margaritas

Tequila blanco (silver or white tequila) has been aged less than 2 months and has a strong, straightforward flavor.
Tequila reposado (“rested” in Spanish) is aged longer, from 2 to 12 months. It has a more nuanced flavor, with notes of oak and vanilla.

Either way, try to find a mid-price range tequila when you make an Italian margarita. Look for 750 ml bottles in the range of $22 to $35.

How to Make an Italian Margarita

The Italian margarita follows the typical margarita pattern: salt the rim, shake in a cocktail shaker, strain, garnish, serve. Shaking the drink allows it to get thoroughly chilled while slightly diluting the alcohol. Here’s an overview of how to make an Italian margarita (or jump to the recipe below):

Step 1: Rim the glass with salt. Our favorite way is to cut a notch in a lime wedge and run it around the glass. Then dip the glass into a plate of kosher salt or flaky sea salt and rotate until the rim is covered.
Step 2: Shake the tequila, orange juice, lime juice, and amaretto in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes until cold.
Step 3: Strain into the glass and serve. Garnish with an orange and lime wedge. You’ve made your Italian margarita!

What to Serve with an Italian Margarita

Quick note: what type of food would you serve with Italian margaritas? You can go either way: Mexican or Italian style!

The drink is pretty tequila-forward, so you could go Mexican and serve with chips, guacamole, and shrimp tacos.
Or, go Italian style with vodka sauce pasta, a chopped salad, and a cheese board with marinated olives.

Two Ways To Step It Up

Last note: here are a few ways to take this Italian margarita over the top! I love to do this when I have time:

Clear ice is artisanal ice that is perfectly clear (not cloudy), and looks like fancy ice you’d get in a bar. It’s absolutely game changing for your homemade cocktails!
This margarita salt with colorful orange and green of citrus zest is eye-catching and perfect for entertaining.

Can You Make This in a Pitcher?

Yes! This drink is great for a crowd. To scale up, multiply all the ingredients by 8: which means simply change the word “ounces” to “cups”. If making in advance, refrigerate until ready to serve.

When ready to serve, add 3 handfuls of ice to the pitcher and stir. Salt rims individually and pour in 5 oz to each glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it just a margarita with amaretto?

While amaretto is a key ingredient, an Italian Margarita offers a more complex flavor profile compared to a classic margarita. The amaretto adds a touch of almond sweetness that complements the tequila and lime.

What makes it “Italian”?

Amaretto, a sweet almond liqueur, is originally from Italy. This liqueur adds a distinctive Italian touch to the margarita.

Is it shaken or stirred?

An Italian Margarita is typically shaken with ice to create a frothy texture, similar to a classic margarita.

What’s the best way to rim the glass?

For an Italian touch, dip the rim of the glass in amaretto before coating it with sugar or a coarse salt like sea salt.

Do I have to use blood orange juice?

Not at all! You can use standard orange juice and the drink will be orange in color.

Italian Margarita

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

This Italian margarita recipe gives this classic cocktail a makeover with orange juice and amaretto! This unique twist on the flavors is ready in 5 minutes with four simple ingredients.

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 drink 1x
Category: Drinks
Method: Shaken
Cuisine: Cocktails
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

2 ounces (4 tablespoons) tequila blanco or reposado*
1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) fresh squeezed orange juice or blood orange juice
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) amaretto
½ ounce (1 tablespoon) lime juice
Kosher salt or flaky sea salt (or margarita salt), for the rim
For the garnish: Lime wedge, orange slice
Clear ice, if serving on the rocks

Instructions

Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of kosher or flaky sea salt.
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve garnished with a lime wedge and orange slice. (Consider using our clear ice for an artisan touch.)

Notes

Blood orange juice: Using blood orange juice gives the drink a bright red color; you can also use fresh squeezed orange juice for an orange color. Both drinks taste similarly citrusy.

For fun rim ideas: Try margarita salt (with orange and lime zest), or a spicy Tajin rim. You could also use superfine sugar for rimming to bring out the sweet notes in the amaretto.

Pitcher variation: To scale up, Multiply all the ingredients by 8: which means simply change the word “ounces” to “cups”. If making in advance, refrigerate until ready to serve. When ready to serve, add 3 handfuls of ice to the pitcher and stir. Salt rims individually and pour in 5 oz to each glass.