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Margaritas are the most popular cocktail in America. But where did they come from and why do we love them so much?
Ah, margaritas! That perfect mix of sweet and sour that makes our taste buds dance with delight. But what many people don’t know is that the margarita has a special place in history.
A Brief History of the Margarita
While there are many claims to the invention of this delicious drink, many reports say it all started when Carlos “Danny” Herrera created the very first margarita back in 1938 at his restaurant Rancho La Gloria in Tijuana, Mexico.
As the story goes, one of his patrons was an aspiring actress named Marjorie King. Danny believed that she was allergic to all hard liquor except tequila and so he created the margarita cocktail specifically for her.
According to Jose Cuervo, the cocktail was invented in 1938 by a bartender in honor of Mexican showgirl Rita de la Rosa.
Another common origin tale begins the cocktail’s history at the legendary Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas, where, in 1948, head bartender Santos Cruz created the margarita for singer Peggy (Margaret) Lee. He supposedly named it after the Spanish version of her name, Margarita.
According to The Smithsonian, another top contender for the inventor title is Margarita Sames, a wealthy Dallas socialite who claimed she whipped up the drink for friends at her Acapulco vacation home in 1948. Among her well-connected guests was Tommy Hilton, who eventually added the drink to the bar menu at his hotel chain.
Whoever came up with the drink, we thank them. The margarita has become a beloved drink around the world and very well may be the official cocktail of Texas. Whether you like your ‘ritas shaken or stirred, frozen or on the rocks – make sure to enjoy one this month and give thanks to the inventors of this delicious adult beverage!
More on the Margarita
Margarita is the Spanish word for “daisy”. A margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec, and lime or lemon juice. It is served shaken with ice (on the rocks), blended with ice (frozen margarita) or without ice (straight up).
The margarita cocktail was the December 1953 “Drink of the Month” in Esquire magazine and was further popularized by the 1977 song “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett. By 2004, it was described as the most popular mixed drink in America.
The original margarita recipe is 1 part white tequila, 1⁄2 part Cointreau, and 1⁄2 part fresh squeezed lime juice. However, mixologists have came up with numerous varietals of the concoction over the years using flavored tequila liqueurs.
National Margarita Day
The popularity of the margarita has grown exponentially over the years and it’s now celebrated with a whole day dedicated to it, National Margarita Day. It falls on February 22nd and is a perfect excuse to indulge in your favorite margarita.
Todd McCalla is the creator of this special day. According to Todd, the goal of National Margarita Day is to “spread his love for margaritas around the world.”
¡Salud!
Life’s too short not to enjoy a margarita every now and then! The bartenders at BFF Asian Grill are always ready to mix up your favorite margarita, so stop by and have a drink with us! ¡Salud!
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