Rosalita

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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 fermented blue agave and yeast, which are distilled and then briefly aged to develop a balanced, slightly oaky flavor.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener made with agave plant sap that’s extracted, filtered, and heated to convert its sugars into a syrup with a mild, honey-like sweetness.

Amaro Montenegro: This is a liqueur made in Italy with a blend of herbs, spices, citrus peels, and botanicals, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a bittersweet, aromatic flavor.

Salt: This is a mineral composed of sodium chloride that has a granulated, crystal texture and savory flavor.

Lime Slice: This is a slice of lime that has been cut into a half wheel shape.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Casamigos Tequila Reposado
• 🔗 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Light Agave Nectar
• 🔗 Amaro Montenegro
• 🔗 Jose Cuervo Premium Margarita Salt

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup

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.