My Margarita

image1

It is reported that the first publication of a Margarita recipe was in the December 1953 issue of Esquire magazine, but its history and creation go back much further. Numerous claims on the original invention include, Carlos Herrera in 1938 at the restaurant Rancho La Gloria and created for a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer who it is claimed was allergic to all spirits except Tequila!

Another version claims that it was invented in October 1941, at Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada, by Don Carlos Orozco for a Margarita Henkel, as she was the first to try the drink, Don Carlos decided to name it after her and the “Margarita” was set loose on the world.

There are also claims that the Margarita was first mixed in El Paso at Tommy’s Place Bar in 1942 by Francisco Morales.

Jose Cuervo however ran ad campaigns for the Margarita during 1945, with the slogan, “Margarita: It’s more than a girl’s name.” According to Jose Cuervo, the cocktail was invented in 1938 by a bartender in honor of Mexican showgirl Rita de la Rosa.

Confused? I don’t blame you but as the saying goes “Success has many Fathers failure has none” if the drink had been a disaster I doubt if so many people would be claiming its invention.

But whatever the origin, the drink just speaks to you of the Mexico, Caribbean, and Florida sun and fun vibe. There are many versions out there from the fantastic to the downright awful. My all-time favorite has to be from the Petrossian Bar in the Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas, which was insanely good and showed how a great a professional cocktail mixologist can make even the simplest of drinks superb.

Balance as with all cocktails is the key, and when I make mine at home although however tempting it is to just to open the bottle and pour, I have conditioned myself to follow this tried and tested recipe.

Method: Into a large glass or cocktail shaker pour 2 floz of your favorite Tequila (I used Jose Cuervo 1800 Reposado) followed by 6 floz of Jose Cuervo Classic Lime Original Margarita Mix for the sours element of the cocktail, add a splash of Fresh Orange juice, about 1 floz and stir.

Take another glass of at least 16 floz in volume and rub a wedge of lime around the rim, dip the upturned glass rim in salt until the rim of the glass is covered. Fill the glass with ice. Pour the cocktail mixture over the ice. Squeeze in the juice from a fresh wedge of lime and float 1 floz of Triple Sec on top to finish the cocktail.

Garnish with a slice of Orange and Lime.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the day

Signature

Leave a Reply