Olive Garden Italian Margarita Recipe

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Last updated on November 2nd, 2022

Olive Garden’s Italian margarita is much loved because of its vibrant flavors. Besides,  the sweet mouthfeel makes it the perfect cocktail for summertime hosting.

While the Olive Garden has put Italian margarita on the map, you can make a far better version at home in about 10 – 15 minutes max. Additionally, you can make it with only fresh ingredients, skipping the packaged sour mix. 

Here’s how to make this classic twisted cocktail. 

What’s Included in Olive Garden Margarita?

Olive Garden Margarita is essentially an Italian creative version of the regular margarita. An extra shot of amaretto precisely complements the appeal of the drink. Here’s what a typical Olive Garden Italian Margarita packs:

Triple Sec 

Triple sec is the unsung hero in most classic cocktails. This sweet, orange-toned clear French liqueur helps bring a citrus punch to the blend. Typically, people use it to offset the typical notes of other spirits’ spice, smoke, and earthiness. Usually, Triple sec is available in any liquor store. 

While some are higher-end expressions, others are incredibly cost-efficient. However, if you can’t manage a bottle of triple sec, you can substitute it with other citrusy liqueur like Pierre or Grand Marnier. 

Jose Cuervo Tequila (Silver)

This true silver tequila features an atypical blend of Blanco and reposado tequila. Aficionados call it the epitome of smoothness. This robust liqueur offers a prominent alcohol burn. Besides, it sports subtle notes of orange peel and detectable nuance of confectioner’s sugar. 

Jose Cuervo is indeed the core of a standard margarita. It’s moderately priced; moreover, you can get it almost everywhere. However, if you still don’t want to invest in one, you can replace it with random Blanco tequilas; but you need to ensure that it hardly affects your cocktail’s taste. 

Amaretto 

Amaretto is a hyped liqueur that typically contains apricot kernels. The beverage carries an Italian origin, and it features almond notes. However, different distillers across the globe currently produce it. The name derives from the Italian words ‘amaro’ (bitter) and ‘etto’ (little). Therefore, from the namesake, it’s pretty easy to guess its taste – a little bitter. 

There are even amarettos that infuse or distill other botanicals like vanilla. In addition, the distiller may even sweeten them with burnt sugar. Most cocktails feature amaretto. Olive Garden’s Italian Margaritas typically come with an amaretto shot separately. However, while making it at home, you may mix it well in the drink. 

Sour Mix

It’s a simple blend of syrup and lime-lemon juice. Bartenders typically use this to regulate the sweetness of the drink. Also called a sweet-sour mix, this ingredient is widely available in supermarkets. But you can also make it at home. To make the sour mix, simply follow the following steps. 

• Mix 1cup white sugar cup and 1 cup water
• Now, put the mixture in a saucepan and place it on a stovetop
• Once done, stir and bring it to boil
• When it boils, turn off the heat. Then, pour half a cup of fresh lime juice and half a cup of lemon juice.
• Mix well and let the mixture cool  

Olive Garden Italian Margarita Recipe

Ingredients – A Quick List

• Jose Cuervo / White tequila (2 ounces)
• Amaretto (1 ounce)
• Triple sec
• Sugar
• Sweet and sour mix 
• Lime
• Orange
• Orange juice (3 ounces)
• Ice cube

Equipment

• Margarita glass
• Cocktail shaker
• Knife
• Squeezer  
• A dish

Recipe 

1. Take the margarita glass, cut a slice of lime, and rim the glass with it. 
2. Take a dish and fill it with sugar. Now, plunge the wet glass into the dish. 
3. Get the cocktail shaker and pour triple sec, sour mix, tequila, and orange juice. 
4. Put the lid on and keep shaking until you blend the ingredients properly. 
5. Put ice cubes into the margarita glass and pour the blend over the ice. 
6. Make sure that you have kept the glass half-filled. 
7. Now gush the amaretto into the margarita glass over the tequila-orange sour-triple sec mix. 
8. Slice lime and oranges and garnish the margarita glass. Your drink is ready to serve! 

3 Hacks to Make Your Olive Garden Margarita Perfect

Now that you know the secrets of Olive Garden Margarita, here are 3 effective hacks to make your drink perfect. 

• Shake it

For Olive Garden Italian Margarita, the more you move the drink, the more flavorful it will be. Therefore, shake your cocktail vigorously. It will aerate the drink, which in turn, will bring out the best flavors. 

• Get The Right Shaker

Typically, you can find two types of shakers in the market – Cobbler, and Boston. A Boston shaker may aerate better, but it chills the drink slowly. Conversely, a cobbler shaker is better at chilling but can’t aerate as efficiently as a Boston shaker. For Olive Garden Italian Margaritas, aerating is more crucial than chilling. Thus, you should use a Boston shaker – even bartenders do the same.  

• Use Fresh Lemon and Orange

Fresh lime and orange add to the flavorfulness and delectability of your drink. In addition, they make your cocktail even more refreshing. Therefore, always use fresh orange, lime, and lemon for making Olive Garden Margaritas. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should you use triple sec for Olive Garden Margarita?

Triple sec brings in fruity flavors and bitter-sweet notes to your drink. These characteristics define a well-made Olive Garden Margarita. Thus, you should always consider adding triple sec while making Olive Garden Italian Margarita. 

• Is Jose Cuervo worth buying?

Jose Cuervo is an ancient tequila brand with an amazing reputation. It produces excellent tequilas. If you are making Margaritas, Jose Cuervo can be the true game-changer. 

• How many calories are in Olive Garden Italian Margaritas?

Typically, a single serving of Olive Garden Italian Margarita boasts 240 calories. Therefore, if you are on a strict diet, you may need to reduce your serving size. 

Wrapping Up

Olive Garden’s Italian Margarita has taken the cocktail world by storm with its deliciousness. However, you don’t need to rush to Olive Garden every time you want to enjoy some cool sips of this world-famous drink. Simply try this recipe out and enjoy this mind-blowing beverage in your home’s comfort.