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The Bocce Ball is a sunny, approachable, and surprisingly refreshing cocktail that combines the almond sweetness of Amaretto Di Saronno with orange juice and a splash of club soda. Named after the Italian lawn game closely associated with Italian-American community life (and a cousin of the French game of pétanque), the Bocce Ball is an equally sociable, easy-drinking cocktail that suits casual outdoor gatherings, backyard parties, and summer afternoons.

The Bocce Ball: A Slice of Italian-American Culture

Bocce ball is one of the oldest games in the world — a form of bowls played in ancient Rome — and in Italian-American communities across the United States it has remained a beloved tradition, associated with Sunday afternoons, family gatherings, and the uncomplicated pleasures of outdoor leisure. The Bocce Ball cocktail captures this spirit: simple, unpretentious, and genuinely enjoyable. Like the Screwdriver (vodka and orange juice), it is a cocktail anyone can make and anyone can enjoy — but with the addition of amaretto, it carries a distinctly Italian-American flavor identity. The almond-orange combination evokes mandorle e arance — almonds and oranges — a quintessential Italian flavor pairing found in Sicilian pastry, Italian biscotti, and the almond groves of southern Italy. For more on this pairing, see the Amaretto Stone Sour and the full Amaretto Di Saronno collection.

Flavor Profile

The Bocce Ball is sweet, citrusy, and lightly effervescent — one of the most approachable amaretto cocktails in the repertoire. Orange juice provides sweet citrus brightness; amaretto adds its bittersweet almond warmth; and the club soda adds carbonation that makes the whole cocktail feel lighter and more refreshing than it otherwise would. The combination is reminiscent of an Italian orange soda crossed with an almond liqueur — uncomplicated, pleasant, and perfectly suited for sipping in the sun. No special technique is required: the Bocce Ball is a build-in-glass cocktail that a non-bartender can make with confidence. According to MyBartender's Bocce Ball page, the standard ratio is 2 parts amaretto to 4 parts orange juice with a splash of soda. Liquor.com's amaretto cocktail collection provides more context for amaretto in casual formats.

How to Make and Serve

Build directly in a highball glass over ice. Add amaretto, then pour in orange juice, and top with a splash of club soda. Stir gently once. Garnish with an orange slice. The cocktail can be scaled up easily for pitchers: use 1 part amaretto to 2 parts orange juice, and add club soda just before serving. See MixDrinkEnjoy's cocktail techniques guide for batch cocktail guidance. The Amaretto Sunrise and the Amaretto Fizz offer related easy-drinking amaretto options for outdoor entertaining.