Margarita: A Classic Recipe For Any Party

Greetings, amigos! Let’s dive into the amazing world of the margarita, a cocktail celebrated for its crisp, refreshing taste and its storied past. And there are stories! Legends abound about this drink’s creation. So, grab your shaker and lime, hopefully you can find your salt, and pour that top-shelf tequila. It’s time to uncover the margarita’s tale.

Classic Margarita Recipe

Don’t go cheap on this cocktail. Fresh fruit juice and top-shelf liquor go a long way. Once you make it right, you’ll never buy that grocery store syrup again.

Ingredients

1 ½ oz premium blanco tequila
1 ½ oz lime juice; we use the juice from one and a half limes
1 oz Cointreau
Lime wedge for garnish
Optional: thick, granular salt (sea salt or kosher salt)

Steps

While salting the rim is traditional, we usually don’t waste our precious drinking time with such things. Life’s too short, drink tequila quicker. But for tradition’s sake, we included it below.

Dampen the rim of your glass with either water or by rubbing it with a lime wedge;
Salt the rim by pouring salt onto a plate and dipping the glass;
Fill the prepared glass with ice;
Prep your lime juice;
Either, pour all the drink’s liquid ingredients into a shaker filled with ice, shake vigorously and strain it into the glass, or;
Pour the ingredients into the prepared glass and gently stir (our preferred method);
Garnish with lime and enjoy.

For Pitchers

Add 12 oz of tequila (about ½ a bottle);
Squeeze the juice of 12 limes;
Pour in 8 oz of Cointreau;
Add ice;
Optional: Top with a can of seltzer (these drinks are strong, and they go quick because they’re so damn good);
Repeat.

The Birth of a Legend

The exact origins of the Margarita remain shrouded in mystery, with several competing tales vying for authenticity. There’s absolutely no way of nailing it down. Some believe the Margarita was simply a tequila-based version of the Daisy cocktail, which mixed citrus juice, sweetener, and alcohol (often brandy). The word “Margarita” itself is Spanish for “daisy,” reinforcing the connection. While that’s interesting and all, here are some of the more enduring legends.

One of the most enduring legends dates back to 1930’s, involving a showgirl and actress named Marjorie King. As the story goes, King was allergic to all spirits, except tequila. Carlos “Danny” Herrera, the owner of Rancho La Gloria, a restaurant and bar in Tijuana, created a special drink for her by mixing tequila with lime and Cointreau, thus birthing the margarita, the Spanish equivalent of Marjorie. Fun Fact: Carlos Herrera was married 10 times! The old rascal must’ve lived on Margaritas.
Another story claims that the margarita was invented in 1941 by bartender Don Carlos Orozco in Ensenada, Mexico at Hussong’s Cantina. He concocted the drink for the German ambassador’s daughter, Margarita Henkel, who was the first to taste it, leading him to name the cocktail after her.
Jose Cuervo claims the Margarita was invented in honor of Mexican showgirl Rita de la Rosa in 1938.
One amusing story involves a Texan named Santos Cruz, who claims to have created the margarita in 1948 for Peggy Lee, a popular singer. According to Cruz, Lee loved the drink so much that she asked him to name it after her—hence, Margarita.
Some of the other locations tied to the Margarita’s creation include: Tommy’s Place Bar in Juarez, the Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas, and house party in Houston, Texas, by BarWarrior Robert “Rusty” Thomson. Anyone with the nickname “Rusty” has to be a BarWarrior. #fact

Carlos “Danny” Herrera, the old rascal must’ve been a charmer

Hollywood Glamour

The margarita’s rise to fame is also tied to the golden era of Hollywood. In the 1940s, a socialite named Margarita Sames claimed to have invented the cocktail at her Acapulco vacation home. Her high-profile guests, including stars like John Wayne and Lana Turner, were captivated by the drink, helping to spread its fame. Whether or not Sames was the true inventor, her story adds a touch of Hollywood glamour to the margarita’s history.

Chili’s Big Mac

An additional tale worth noting involves the popular restaurant chain Chili’s, which played a significant role in popularizing the frozen margarita in the United States. Chili’s founder, Larry Lavine, was inspired by the invention of the frozen margarita machine and incorporated it into the restaurant’s menu, making the margarita a household name. There have been comparisons that Chili’s made the frozen margarita into the “Big Mac” of cocktails.

Check this out. That Margarita Machine, in 1971, it was a Dallas restaurateur named Mariano Martinez who repurposed a soft-serve ice cream machine to create the first frozen margarita machine. This invention not only revolutionized how margaritas were served but also cemented the drink’s place in Tex-Mex culture. Today, that original machine resides in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Truly a national treasurer deserving a prominent spot in the Smithsonian.

The Perfect Recipe

While the origins of the margarita may be debatable, the recipe is a classic. A traditional margarita consists of three main ingredients: tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau (you can us triple sec but top-shelf liqueur is preferred). The ratio can vary, but a common mix is 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of lime juice, and 1 ounce of Cointreau. We stick to the 1 ½ oz tequila, 1 ½ oz lime juice, and 1 oz of Cointreau for a more balanced, refreshing cocktail. Besides, it’s easier for us to remember the 3-3-2 ratio for two cocktails, because we’re never making just one.

For those who love to experiment, the margarita offers endless possibilities. Variations like the spicy jalapeño margarita, the sweet mango margarita, and even the smoky mezcal margarita cater to different palates, ensuring there’s a margarita for every taste.

National Margarita Day and Other Lore

The margarita is not just a drink; it’s a symbol of relaxation and enjoyment. It evokes images of sunny beaches, lively conversations, and carefree moments. Its versatility has led to numerous variations, from frozen margaritas to fruity infusions, each with its own story and fan base. The margarita’s popularity has even sparked national holidays like National Margarita Day, celebrated on February 22nd, where enthusiasts honor this beloved cocktail with gusto.

In modern pop culture, the margarita has inspired songs, such as “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett, which further cements its status as a symbol of a laid-back, carefree lifestyle. This iconic song has become an anthem for those seeking escape and relaxation, much like the drink itself.

Adding to the margarita’s lore is the annual Margarita Mile in Dallas, Texas. This self-guided tour features some of the best margaritas in the city, allowing participants to sample a variety of unique takes on the classic cocktail while exploring Dallas’s vibrant nightlife.

It’s more than just a cocktail

The margarita is more than just a cocktail; it’s a drink with a rich tapestry of stories and legends. Whether sipped on a sunny beach, enthusiastically enjoyed by Parrot Heads, or savored in a quiet moment of relaxation, the margarita continues to captivate and refresh. So, find that lost shaker of salt, think of a woman to blame, and don’t step on that pop top unless you have cocaine, because it’s time to sit on that front porch swing and make a Margarita disappear.