Ah, the margarita. The perfect thirst quenching cocktail to sip on while you soak up the sunshine under a shaded palapa. I’ve long loved this tart and tasty beverage, associating it with all the things I love about the country it originated in.
But where exactly did the margarita cocktail originate?
There are a few stories as to who created this popular Mexican beverage. One anecdoteย originates in 1938 when Carlos “Danny” Herrera developed the drink in his Tijuana restaurant. The story says Dannyย created the cocktail after one of his customers, an aspiring actress named Marjorie King, who was allergic to all hard alcohol other than tequila. Herrera combined a traditional tequila shot, a lick of salt and a wedge of lime, turning it into a refreshing drink for his sensitive patron.ย
Another story comes out of Dallas, whereย Margarita Sames, a wealthy socialite claims she created the cocktail in 1948 for friends at her Acapulco vacation home. One of these friends included Tommy Hilton, who enjoyed the drink so much that he added it to the bar menu at his hotel chain.
No matter where it originated, nothing beats a perfectly made margarita.
It seems simple to make, doesn’t it? – tequila, limes and salt. However making this refreshing beverage shouldn’t be taken lightly. Here is my recipe for the perfect margarita.
What you’ll need:
- Tequila (100% agave is a must, preferably a โreposadoโ)
- Cocktail shaker
- Margarita glass
- Orange Liqueur (Triple sec or Cointreau)
- Lime juice – must be fresh!
- Coarse salt
- Ice
Step 1:ย Rub the rim of the margarita glass with a lime wedge and then dip the glass rim into the coarse salt. Carefully add ice to the glass without disturbing the salt.
Step 2:ย Fill the cocktail shaker half with ice. Add 2 ounces of tequila, 1 ounce of orange liqueur and 1/2 ounce of lime juice. Shake 3 or 4 times and pour into salt-rimmed glass.
Step 3:ย Garnish with a lime slice or an orange twist.
Step 4: Enjoy (preferably on a beach with your toes in the sand)!