Cheater tip: If you like the look but can’t find blood oranges, a drizzle of pomegranate juice or cranberry juice would work too! Why we love this recipe: 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 traveling in Italy (Rome, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast are faves): so of course we had to try the Italian margarita!
Tequila Orange or blood orange juice Amaretto Lime juice
Blood oranges have sweet juice and a bright pink color. We love this spin on it because it’s so eye-catching, just like our 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.
More margarita recipes
Alex and I are big margarita fans over here, so we’ve got lots of spins on this classic drink. Here are some of our favorite margarita recipes:
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. It’s worth getting a bottle for your shelf: you can use it in cocktails and in desserts! More drinks that feature amaretto are an Amaretto Sour, Amaretto Coffee, or a French Connection.
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.
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.
Go simple with a classic margarita recipe, frozen margarita, Patron margarita, agave margarita, or Cointreau margarita. Step it up with a Mezcal margarita, beer margarita, jalapeno margarita, or Cadillac margarita. Go fruity with a pineapple margarita, strawberry margarita, or mango margarita. Skip the booze for a virgin margarita.
Frequently asked questions
5 from 2 reviews 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.
