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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. I used Casamigos Tequila Reposado.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener that is made from the fluid inside agave plants. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Amaro Montenegro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a secret blend of forty botanicals, spices, sugar, and alcohol.
Salt: This is a mineral. I 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. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Tasting Notes
This cocktail has the following flavor profile:
• Appearance: Faint brown-ish gold color with an ombré effect
• Aroma: Agave and citrus
• Taste: Noticeable tequila, lime, sugar, and salt with a slightly bitter note
• Finish: Herbs, spices and tangy lime
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 typically get from the template. I am definitely going to revisit the Rosalita because it is a delight!”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was found in the book Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
Rosalita
Description
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.
Ingredients
Method
Pour salt onto a plate, rub outer rim of a lowball glass with lime rind, and roll rim of glass in salt until coated.
Add tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, and Amaro Montenegro to a shaker.
Fill shaker with cubed ice.
Shake for 10-20 seconds.
Add fresh cracked ice to salt-rimmed lowball glass.
Using a Hawthorne strainer, strain into salt-rimmed lowball glass.
Garnish with lime slice.
