Tequila was first distilled in the 16th century in Mexico, and today it is produced there, as well as in the United States and several other countries including Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Peru and thank the spirit gods because there are some things you just don't mess with, like a classic Margarita. Tequila, lime and triple sec have enjoyed widespread interest as a cocktail mixing staple since the 1930's. With the cocktail renaissance of today, one is reminded about how good these simple ingredients are together.
The name "margarita" comes from the Spanish word... well "margarita," which means "daisy" even though the exact origin of the drink is unknown. Theories range from it being created by one man or woman to a combination of many different bartenders' recipes to it being named after an American actress who frequented Mexican bars (I believe it was "Marga" Rita Hayworth.)
The margarita made its way to America in 1947 when Carlos "Danny" Herrera opened his bar Danny's Restaurant & Cantina. It gained popularity during the 1970s when Don Carlos opened up next door to Herrera's bar and has enjoyed near unrivaled growth as one of the most well known and popular cocktails over 50 years later!
The margarita can be served on the rocks in an Old Fashioned glass or over ice in a rocks glass. A variation called the "Texas Margarita" is served blended with limeade. Another variation (or violation depending on your stance) called the "Frozen Margarita" is made with tequila, triple sec and lime juice blended over ice with sweet and sour mix and served frozen. These are FINE, but in my (less than humble) opinion the number one in my heart will always be a classic shaken margarita dressed in a maldon salt rim.
Variations of this iconic cocktail swap or contain additional ingredients such as jalapenos, agave syrup, mezcal, or other fruit juices. It's such a fun and easy drink to play with, I would encourage anyone getting into cocktails to really experiment with this one, some strawberries here some bitters there, I've even had a carrot-ginger marg and as long as you stick to the basic specs all of these will equate to a new wonderful drink.
So how do you make your own Margarita? Below I will provide my prefered recipe for a classic marg, but again, I encourage everyone to try their own version!
Margarita
3/4 oz. Simple syrup
1 oz. Lime juice
2 oz. Tequila Reposado
1/4oz. Cointreau
1 Lime wheel
Maldon or Kosher Salt
First, rim the glass by rubbing the upper rim with a fresh cut lime wheel, roll the glass in your salt, and set aside. In a shaker, combine all remaining ingredients and hard shake for 10-12 seconds. Fill your salted glass with fresh ice and pour using a hawthorn strainer. Finish by garnishing with the a fresh lime wheel.
I hope this sheds a little light on the history of the margarita, a perfect drink for the sun! like most cocktails, we'll never really know where they came from, but I think it's safe to say we know where this one is going, nowhere anytime soon!
Enjoy responsibly and thank you for reading!
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