Copycat Olive Garden Italian Margarita Recipe

Make a fun twist on a classic cocktail at home with this Copycat Olive Garden Italian Margarita Recipe. Made with tequila, triple sec, orange, and citrus notes, this Italian margarita recipe is full of simple ingredients with fruity flavor.

Why You Will Love This Cocktail

Olive’s Garden Italian Margarita takes the classic margarita cocktail and adds some Italian flare. These Italian elements are the main difference to a classic margarita.

Using sweet Italian liqueur and some orange, alongside amaretto, this alcoholic drink is popular in Olive Garden restaurants.

Ingredients

Full quantities can be found in the recipe card below.

Let’s talk about what we are using for this Olive Garden margarita:

Tequila – a silver tequila (tequila blanco) is traditionally used in restaurants, and reposado is a popular choice for margaritas. Añejo tequila tends to not be worth the extra cost because of the mixing with other ingredients. But use whichever variety you consider the best tequila for a margarita. (The restaurant uses Jose Cuervo blanco tequila).

Triple Sec – an orange liqueur commonly used in margaritas

Sweet and Sour Mix – either store bought or homemade sour mix of fresh citrus juices is great based on preference

Orange Juice – adds a touch of sweetness and depth of flavor

Disaronno Amaretto – an almond liqueur, this sweet amaretto is a big part of what makes this an Italian margarita. Serve it on the side like the restaurant, or add it as a floater right on top!

Orange Sugar – the restaurant uses colored sugar for the rim. You can use a citrus flavored sugar, buy a colored sugar, or just use regular granulated sugar.

Fresh Lime Wedge

Fresh Orange Wedge

We do not need simple syrup for this recipe but if you prefer for it to be sweeter, you can add some as preferred.

Instruction Overview

Just like a traditional margarita, put all liquids (except the amaretto) in a cocktail shaker with some ice and shake until very cold.

To make the sugar rim, wet the rim of the glass with a wedge of lime or orange and then roll in the sugar for it to stick. (Or make a salted rim if preferred!)

Fill the glass with ice and strain the cocktail into the margarita glasses.

Serve with a shot of amaretto liqueur on the side. The nutty amaretto is a perfect pairing! I like to pour it right on top as a floater.

Make a Pitcher

This cocktail is a great drink that can easily be made into a big batch!

Pitcher sizes vary with how much they can hold, but this is how to make an 8 drink batch.

Fill the pitcher half way with ice. Add some lime slices and orange slices.

To the pitcher, add 1 1/4 cups tequila, 3/4 cup triple sec, 3 cups sour mix, one cup orange juice. Stir to combine.

Serve either alongside the amaretto (3/4 cup needed for 8 drinks) or you can mix the amaretto into the pitcher along with everything else! Serve alongside prepared glasses.

FAQs

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