Lounge Lizard Cocktail

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
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Updated on 09/2/21
Lounge Lizard Cocktail

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
241 Calories
1g Fat
28g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 241
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 8mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 27g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg 3%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 35mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The lounge lizard is an easy and quick mixed drink that can help you break out of a routine. If you enjoy a good rum & Coke, then you should certainly give this recipe a try.

It's quite simple: the lounge lizard is nothing more than a shot of dark rum, a short pour of amaretto, and cola. It's the rum switch and liqueur addition that makes it a little more interesting. They give the popular mixed drink a darker flavor profile that goes down just as easily and is very refreshing.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces dark rum

  • 1/2 ounce amaretto liqueur

  • 4 to 6 ounces cola, to taste

  • Maraschino cherry, or lime wedge, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Lounge Lizard Cocktail ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. In a collins glass filled with ice, pour the dark rum and amaretto.

    In a collins glass filled with ice, pour the dark rum and amaretto

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Top the drink with cola.

    Lounge Lizard Cocktail in a glass

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Stir well.

    stir the cocktail

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Garnish with a cherry or lime wedge. Serve and enjoy.

    Lounge Lizard Cocktail garnished with a cherry

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • The amount of cola you end up pouring will depend on how tall your glass is, how much ice you use and if you want a stronger or lighter drink.
  • While Coke or Pepsi may be your first cola of choice, try to remain open to using some of the lesser-known colas. RC Cola works great here, though a wonderful brand is Q Kola, which is unlike any "cola" many of us are used to. It was made specifically for mixed drinks and has a lighter taste that really allows the other ingredients to shine through.
  • The quality of your rum is not a big concern in this drink. Save a little money if you like, just ensure that the dark rum you pour is one that you enjoy. That's the real key to making any drink just a little better.

Recipe Variations

  • Some recipes suggest just 1 ounce of rum and it's a good option if you want a lighter drink. Others pour as much as 2 ounces, which can be a good route with syrupy colas (e.g., Coke).
  • Light rum, spiced rum, even some flavored rums... they can all work well in the lounge lizard. Try it with coconut rum as it's a surprisingly good companion to amaretto.
  • Instead of amaretto, pour another dark, nutty liqueur. The hazelnut flavor of Frangelico, for instance, would be a pleasant taste against the rum and cola.

How Strong Is a Lounge Lizard?

The lounge lizard's strength is perfectly in line with other highball mixed drinks. When made with an 80-proof rum and the average amaretto, it mixes up to 10 percent ABV (20 proof). That's similar to a glass of wine, but this drink definitely beats that in the flavor department.