TEQUILA DAISY
The Tequila Daisy: The Margarita's Ancestor
The Tequila Daisy appeared in bartending manuals from the late 19th century, with the "Daisy" being a popular cocktail category that combined spirits with citrus, sweetener, and soda water.
The word "Margarita" is Spanish for "daisy," suggesting the Margarita evolved directly from this earlier template, according to Liquor.com. The cocktail combines tequila with fresh lemon juice, orange liqueur (often orange curaçao historically), simple syrup, and soda water. This formula creates a lighter, more effervescent drink than the modern Margarita, as noted in Difford's Guide.
The Tequila Daisy represents late Victorian cocktail culture when "Daisy" drinks were popular across various spirits. The drink's formula closely resembles the Margarita but with added soda water and sometimes lemon instead of lime, showing the evolutionary link between the two cocktails.
RECIPE:
2 oz tequila (blanco)
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1/4 oz simple syrup
2 oz soda water
Lemon wheel for garnish
Method:
Add tequila, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Top with soda water and stir gently.
Garnish with lemon wheel.