Margarita Mania: Celebrating National Margarita Day with the Classic Marg

Raise your glasses, folks! National Margarita Day is here, and it’s time to pay tribute to this legendary cocktail on February 22nd.

According to National Geographic (yes, you read that right), nobody really knows who invented the Margarita. It’s a cocktail shrouded in mystery and allure, much like a good tequila buzz. But one thing’s for sure: there’s always a captivating woman involved.

One story tells of Mexican restaurant owner Carlos (Danny) Herrera in 1938, who crafted the first Margarita for the glamorous Ziegfeld showgirl Marjorie King. Poor Marjorie was allergic to all alcohol except tequila but couldn’t stand it straight. Danny, ever the hero, mixed in salt and lime, creating the world’s first Margarita. Another tale links it to actress Rita Hayworth, who was offered one by an admiring bartender during a theatre gig in Tijuana in the 1940s. Her real name? Margarita Cansino. Coincidence? We think not.

Some say the Margarita evolved from a cocktail known as the “daisy,” a delightful mix of alcohol, citrus juice, and grenadine served over ice, popular in the 30s and 40s. There were gin daisies, whiskey daisies, and eventually, tequila daisies. Over time, this Mexican-influenced daisy adopted its Spanish name, Margarita, which fittingly means ‘daisy.’

While there are endless delightful variations of the Margarita, today we’re shaking things up with the timeless Classic Marg. Ready to get your fiesta on? Let’s go!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon coarse salt for glass rims (get fancy with black lava salt or something spiced with chilli!)
• 60ml high-quality Blanco Tequila
• 30ml Cointreau
• 20ml fresh lime juice
• Garnish: a lime wheel or two (fresh or dehydrated)

How to Make It:

1. Run a lime wedge around the outer rim of a rocks glass, then dip the rim in salt. Set aside and admire your handiwork.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, Cointreau, and lime juice. Fill with ice, then shake like you’re dancing the salsa for 15-20 seconds.
3. Fill the salted glass with fresh ice and strain the Margarita into it.
4. Garnish with a lime wheel or two (fresh or dehydrated), pop on your sombrero, and enjoy!

Note:

If you’re a Margarita aficionado and crave more, check out our favourite Margarita expert, The Margarita Mum – follow her on Instagram. She’s got all the tips and tricks to keep your Margarita game strong. Cheers!