Amaro Margarita

Name: Amaro Margarita
Yield: 10
Cuisine: American

Recipe: Chris Elford , Navy Strength , Seattle

Photo: Johana Rivas

April 17, 2026

A Margarita with a bittersweet edge.

Looking for a Margarita with a bitter edge? Shake up this amaro Margarita from Chris Elford, co-founder of Seattle’s Navy Strength. Inspired by his days at New York bitters bar Amor Y Amargo, Elford set out to create a Margarita “through the lens of the Boukman Daiquiri and the also classic (but unfortunately named) Donga Punch.” He balances the baking spices of Averna with a rich cinnamon syrup and the amaro’s bitter notes with an oleo saccharum.

Ingredients

1 1/4 oz. blanco tequila
1 oz. fresh lime juice
3/4 oz. Averna
1/2 oz. rich cinnamon syrup
1/2 oz. citrus oleo saccharum

Tools:shaker
Glass:tumbler
Garnish:orange slice

Preparation

Rim the edge of a glass with salt, fill with ice, and set aside. Add all of the ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into the prepared glass, then add the garnish.
Rich Cinnamon SyrupSlice 6 cinnamon sticks thinly lengthwise to expose more surface area for more flavor. Add 9 oz. of demerara sugar to 6 oz. of boiling water, stir, and allow the sugar to dissolve completely. Add the cinnamon and allow to steep overnight. Strain out the cinnamon sticks. Will keep for about a month in the refrigerator.