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

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.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
241 Calories
1g Fat
28g Carbs
0g Protein
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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.)