We were still looking for some lower alcohol cocktails and this pairing of citrus and almond fit the bill. It certainly sounded refreshing. Named after the Italian ball sport, Bocce Balls showed up in the early 80s almost certainly invented by Di Saronno to help popularize their amaretto. It appeared in numerous advertisements placed by Di Saronno when they sponsored a bocce ball tournaments.

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces amaretto Di Saronno
• 4 ounces orange juice
• 2 ounces club soda
• Orange slice, to garnish

Method

Shake the amaretto and orange juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Strain the contents of the shaker into an ice-filled Collins glass.
Pour club soda on top of the drink and stir. Garnish with an orange slice.

Bocce Balls can also be made in a high-test version with the addition of  1.5 ounces of vodka and only .5 ounce of amaretto which makes them more of a modified screwdriver:
Bocce Ball with vodka: 8% ABV (16 proof)
Bocce Ball without vodka: 5% ABV (10 proof)

The verdict: There is something about amaretto that almost always ensures a good drink and this one was no exception. It was the perfect, easy-to-make cocktail .