Almond Margarita Recipe (Amaretto or Italian Margarita)

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This super delicious Italian Margarita recipe is a delicious almond twsit on that classic margarita flavor. Made with tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and amaretto liqueur, you will fall in love with the unique, nutty flavor. It’s the perfect drink to make when you want something a little different from your beloved margarita!

A glass of delicious Italian margarita garnished with a yellow flower. — Let’s make this easy Italian margarita recipe.

Why You’ll Love an Amaretto Margarita

I had an Almond Margarita on a recent trip to Mexico and absolutely fell in love! I knew I wanted to make one for myself as soon as I got home. Amaretto makes it super simple to make a flavorful drink that you won’t soon forget.

Amaretto originates from Italy, which is why an Amaretto Margarita is also called an Italian Margarita. Amaretto liqueur (a liqueur where the alcohol has been infused with almonds or stone fruit pits) is sweet and is a great way to add another layer of flavor to a margarita.

*I was sent a bottle of Disaronno Amaretto to make this recipe. While there are other brands of amaretto on the market, Disaronno is iconic and classic. It’s my top choice for the best flavor.

An amaretto margarita is remarkably easy to make and has a gorgeous golden color. While I like to keep my home bar small, there are so many fun ways to use Amaretto that you likely already have a bottle on hand.

An almond margarita is perfect for serving on girls’ nights, for special occasions with friends and family, or when you just want to relax and unwind by yourself.

Ingredients

A bottle of Tequila Gran Diamante, Disaronno Originale, Cointreau, Fresh lime, and Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters. — What you need to make a Disaronno margarita.

We used Tequila Gra n Diamante for this Italian Margarita with amaretto. Their silver tequila is delicious and goes really well with the other ingredients. You can use any blanco tequila for this recipe, but reposado tequila works, too.

Orange liqueur, like Cointreau, is essential in margarita recipes. Made using a blend of bitter and sweet orange peels, it gives margaritas a well-balanced flavor. However, you can use Triple Sec or whatever orange liquor you have on hand.

Freshly squeezed lime juice is a MUST for making the best margarita cocktail, and Italian margaritas are no exception. It adds brightness and tartness that makes the cocktail so refreshing.

We used Disaronno Originale for this recipe because it has such a great sweet almond flavor. But you can use another brand of Amaretto.

We used Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters for an extra special touch. The Almond Margarita I had in Mexico also had a spiced syrup (like a simple syrup made with cinnamon and other spices – but this is a hack for getting more spiced flavor fast). You could also use Hipstirs’ Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup, which has a great spice flavor profile but that would also make it a bit sweeter. (You can also just leave these out and it won’t change the flavor too much).

Be sure to scroll down to the printable recipe card for the complete recipe.

How to Make an Italian Margarita

Rim the Margarita Glass (optional)

While it is traditional to rim a margarita glass with salt, we don’t always do it for a variety of reasons. I prefer this almond margarita without a salted rim, but it’s up to you. Here’s how to salt a margarita glass properly.

A woman pouring Disaronno Amaretto on a jigger.

A woman ddding some drops of Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters to the cocktail shaker.

Step 1

Add the tequila, Cointreau, spiced bitters, Disaronno Amaretto, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker.

Step 2

Add ice and shake vigorously for at about 20 seconds.

Straining some almond margarita mixture into a margarita glass.

Step 3

Strain the mixture into a margarita glass with ice. Serve with a lime wedge or edible flower as a garnish, and enjoy!

A glass of Disaronno margarita with a yellow flower garnish. in front of a Disaronno Amaretto bottle.

Tips

It’s already sweet enough for us with the Amaretto, but if you love sweet drinks, a touch more Triple Sec (Cointreau) or a bit of simple syrup. If it’s too sweet, try adding a bit more lime juice.
If you’re making more for friends, use the slider in the recipe card below to modify the serving size. Combine all the ingredients in a margarita pitcher.
Don’t want to buy Amaretto but still want that almond flavor? Try a tiny bit of almond extract (it’s super potent) or a little orgeat syrup.

Variations to Try

SWITCH UP THE SALT – Instead of using plain salt on the rim of the glass, try using black salt. It has a slightly different flavor and looks so cool.
A SWEET ORANGE RIM – Since this is a bit of a sweeter margarita, it would be absolutely delicious with a sugar rim. Use a little orange juice on the rim before dipping in sugar. The orange juice will go so well with the almond flavor of the Amaretto.
MORE FLAVORS – Want to get creative? You can add other ingredients to this drink. Just about anything that pairs well with almonds would be a good place to start, like vanilla!
MAKE IT FROZEN – As with most margaritas you can easily make this almond margarita recipe frozen by blending it with ice.
SERVE THE AMARETTO ON THE SIDE – Want to make it a little more interactive? Serve it like the Oliver Garden where you add a little Amaretto to the recipe and then serve the rest in a shot on the side so whoever is drinking it can add as much or as little as they want.

Frequently Asked Questions

I want an Italian margarita with a more sour mix. How can I achieve that with this recipe?

We make our Italian Margaritas with fresh ingredients and not sour mix. But if you want it to be more citrus-forward than sweet, we suggest using a mix of fresh lemon and lime juices. Then taste and adjust to get the flavor you crave.

Can I add Aperol to this recipe?

Aperol is an Italian aperitif known for its bitter orange flavor. But it doesn’t have the right flavor profile for this Almond Margarita. While it is an orange liqueur, you also wouldn’t want to substitute it for Triple Sec because it’s so different and bold in flavor.

Which food pairings go well with an Italian margarita?

Serve this drink alongside various Italian dishes for an amazing dining experience. An antipasto platter with cured meats is a great pairing. An appetizer like bruschetta with it’s garlicky tomatoes would be lovely too. A fresh, caprese salad is a great compliment. And a dish like pistachio-crusted chicken would be just right. I would stay away from super heavy pastas with this Italian Margarita.

Italian Margarita vs. Regular Margarita?

An Italian Margarita has Amaretto in it where a regular margarita just has the classic ingredients of tequila, orange liqueur and lime. (Ours also has a little bit of spiced bitters).

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