Italian Margarita
The Italian margarita is the cool older sister of the classic margarita. Made with tequila, amaretto, lime juice, and lemon juice, this light and refreshing cocktail is simply delicious.
Servings 2 margaritas
Calories 248kcal
Ingredients
- 4 ounces tequila (silver or blanco)
- 3 ounces amaretto (or almond liqueur)
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 1 ounce lemon juice
Optional - try it without first
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
Garnish
- 2 wedges lime
- salt (kosher or Maldon chunky salt for rim - this is Optional)
Instructions
- If you want a salted glass - see notes below on how to salt the rim.salt
- Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Get a measuring glass and glassware.
- Add tequila, amaretto, lime juice and lemon juice.4 ounces tequila, 3 ounces amaretto, 1 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce lemon juice
- Cap shaker and shake for 15 seconds. (optional - take a spoon and taste to make sure it is sweet enough for you - take a few tastes, if you need it sweeter, add 1/4 ounce of simple syrup. Cap and shake again - and taste it again - but I believe you won't need it.)1/4 ounce simple syrup
- Add fresh ice to the glassware. Strain and divide the liquid between the two glasses.
- Squeeze a lime wedge into each of the glasses.2 wedges lime
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
Please try the margarita first without simple syrup. Give it a taste and if you don't find it sweet enough, add 1/4 ounce. And if you still find it needs sweetener, add another 1/4 ounce.
Helpful tips
- Everyone I've served this margarita to has agreed with me that it doesn't need any additional sweetener like simple syrup or agave syrup. So, try it this way first and if after your first sip you find you would like it sweeter, add the sweetener 1/4 ounce at a time. Because remember, you can easily add it, but you can't subtract it.
- Wash your citrus before juicing them or adding it to your cocktail. Here is how: squirt some unscented, natural hand soap (I get the foaming soap in bulk at Whole Foods) in your hand and rub the fruit between your palms. Next, take a vegetable brush and brush the skin of the fruit. Finally, rinse the limes and lemons under cold water, making sure to remove all the soap.
- I find that depending on the size of the lime, you can get 1 ounce of juice out of a large lime. You can also get 1 ounce of juice out of half of a large lemon.
- Cut 2 lime wedges for garnish.
- I chose to salt only one of the glasses as hubby prefers unsalted margaritas. Chose which you prefer.
- Here is how to salt the rim of a glass. Add a chunky salt like kosher to a small plate. Wet your finger in some simple syrup and rub it around the rim of a glass. With the glass upside down, roll the rim around in the salt. With the glass still upside down, shake off any excess salt as you don't want it to fall into the glass and make a salty margarita.
Nutrition
Serving: 1margarita | Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg