MARGARITA
The Margarita: Tequila's Most Famous Cocktail
The Margarita's exact origins remain disputed, with multiple creation stories claiming credit for the cocktail.
The most commonly cited origin points to Carlos "Danny" Herrera, who allegedly created the drink in 1938 at his Rancho La Gloria restaurant in Tijuana for a customer allergic to all spirits except tequila, according to Liquor.com.
Another popular story credits socialite Margarita Sames with inventing the drink in 1948 at her Acapulco vacation home. However, the earliest documented recipe appears in the December 1953 issue of Esquire magazine, which described the Margarita as a tequila version of the Daisy cocktail family, as noted in Difford's Guide.
The cocktail combines tequila with fresh lime juice and orange liqueur (traditionally Cointreau or triple sec), creating a balanced sour-style drink. The standard presentation includes a salt rim on the glass, which enhances the lime's tartness while complementing tequila's agave sweetness, according to Punch.
The Margarita gained widespread popularity in the United States during the 1970s, coinciding with the rise of blended frozen versions and the growth of Mexican restaurants. Today the Margarita remains one of the world's most popular cocktails, spawning countless variations while the classic formula continues to be the gold standard for tequila cocktails.
RECIPE:
2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado)
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz Cointreau or triple sec
Salt for rim (optional)
Lime wheel for garnish
Method:
Rim a rocks glass with salt if desired.
Add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
Strain into the glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with lime wheel.