This post contains affiliate links. See our disclosure policy here.
Cocktail History
The Rosalita is a modern cocktail that was created in 2015 by Dylan O’Brien at his bar Prizefighter in Emeryville, California. Named for a Bruce Springsteen song, it takes the classic lime Margarita that calls for tequila, lime, simple syrup, and a salted rim, and it adds in Amaro Montenegro instead of the usual orange liqueur.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Tequila Reposado: This is a type of tequila made in Mexico with blue agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged from two to twelve months. We used Casamigos Tequila Reposado because it has a light and sweet agave flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. We used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener that is made from the fluid inside agave plants. We made ours at home using Alex’s recipe.
Amaro Montenegro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a secret blend of forty botanicals, spices, sugar, and alcohol. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro.
Salt: This is a mineral. We used Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
The Rosalita starts with strong agave aromas, has a familiar flavor that features tequila, lime, and agave but with a perceptible herbal, slightly bitter note, and finishes much like its inspiration, just with extra touches of herbs and spices.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: We were both big fans of this altered version! We particularly praised the Rosalita for its beachy qualities and contemplative addition of amaro that cuts the usual tartness of the classic and replaces it with delicious complexity.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This take on a Margarita is incredibly interesting because it’s essentially the recipe I use for the classic at home, but it swaps in Amaro Montenegro for the orange liqueur. The result is pretty dang delicious, with most of the flavors of the original preserved but a slightly dry and herbal backbone behind everything which has a tendency to linger a bit longer than the other flavors.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I admit, I never would’ve thought to add an amaro to a Margarita, but wow. That one change makes a completely different drink that feels familiar but tastes much more muted than the usual lip-puckering tartness you usually get from the template. I am definitely going to revisit this version because it is a delight!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
![Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave [A Cocktail Recipe Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ci0Phiq7L._SL75_.jpg)
Pour salt onto a plate, rub outer rim of a lowball glass with lime rind, and roll glass in salt until coated.
Add tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, Amaro Montenegro, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into salt-rimmed lowball glass.
Garnish with lime slice.
Ingredients
Directions
Pour salt onto a plate, rub outer rim of a lowball glass with lime rind, and roll glass in salt until coated.
Add tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, Amaro Montenegro, and cubed ice to a shaker.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Strain into salt-rimmed lowball glass.
Garnish with lime slice.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Ritual Zero-Proof Tequila Alternative in place of the tequila and Dr. Zero Zero ArmarNo Non-Alcoholic Amaro in place of the amaro to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Shop Glassware & Tools
Find collections of cocktail glassware and bartending tools we recommend for your home bar in our Amazon shop.
More Tequila Cocktails
If you like this tequila-based cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Classic Lime Margarita: A tequila cocktail made with triple sec, lemon juice, lime juice, agave syrup, salt, and a lime slice
Raspberry Margarita: A tequila cocktail made with lime juice, triple sec, raspberry syrup, and raspberries
Smoky Pineapple Margarita: A tequila and mezcal cocktail made with triple sec, lime juice, pineapple syrup, Tajín, a lime wedge, and a lime slice
Dr. Jekyll’s Monster Margarita: A tequila cocktail made with triple sec, black raspberry liqueur, lime juice, agave syrup, and black salt
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2023-09-22.
