The iconic Margarita cocktail is a staple during the summer months with its ultra-refreshing and tangy flavour.
As part of the ‘sour’ family of cocktails, the Margarita is one of the most well-known, classic cocktails around! While there have been many variations over the years, the original has definitely earned its place in the cocktail hall of fame and even has its own day dedicated to it, the 22nd of February. Keep reading to learn all about the intriguing background of the Margarita, how you can make it yourself at home and its most popular variations.
Margarita Cocktail Origins
The creation of the Margarita cocktail is a real mystery. Many stories have circulated the drink’s industry for decades on how and when it was created. And though none of them have been confirmed, there are a few firm favourites.
The most popular theory is that it was created in 1938 by a man called Carlos Herrera, a Mexican restaurant owner, for a beautiful showgirl named Marjorie King. According to the story, King was allergic to all types of alcohol except tequila. But, she didn’t enjoy drinking tequila straight. Herrera supposedly came up with a solution to this by adding Cointreau and lime and adding salt to the rim. He then named it the Margarita as it was the closest name to Marjorie in Spanish.
Another popular theory insists that the Margarita was officially invented exactly 10 years later in 1948 by a Texan socialite, Margaret (a.k.a Margarita) Sames, at one of her legendary house parties. Wanting to greet guests with a new, fresh cocktail, she mixed together her two favourite spirits, Cointreau and tequila, with lime juice and it proved to be a huge hit...so much so that Tommy Hilton included the cocktail on the bar menu at the Hilton hotel chain. However whilst Sames is adamant she was the original creator of the cocktail, her story is disputed as just 3 years earlier, tequila brand Jose Cuervo had already been running ad campaigns for the Margarita.
But, no matter how contested the origins of the Margarita are, one thing is for certain...it’s an absolutely delicious cocktail! The perfect balance of sweet and sour with a salty finish, the Margarita
offers delight with every sip and that keeps you coming back for more.
How to Make a Margarita Cocktail
An original Margarita is one of the easiest cocktails you can make yourself at home as it only requires 3 ingredients and little preparation. Combining tequila, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, simply shake it well and then strain it into a glass. Garnish the glass with a lime wedge and you’ll have a wonderfully refreshing cocktail to enjoy!
If you want to add an extra little something to the cocktail, you can always rim the glass with salt beforehand by wetting the edge with a lime wedge and then dipping or rolling the glass in a small dish of salt.
Different Types of Margarita Cocktails
Luckily for the Margarita, almost every fruit pairs well with tequila so there are hundreds of ways to experiment on the original recipe to create something new, fresh and exciting. Here are some of the most popular, and our favourite, Margarita variations:
- Frozen Margarita - perfect for hot summer days, pool parties and BBQs, a Frozen Margarita is wonderfully fruity, cool and refreshing. Simply blend the tequila, Cointreau and lime juice with ice in a blender until it’s of a slushy consistency, then pour into glasses.
- Tommy’s Margarita - bright and citrusy, Tommy’s Margarita is a modern variation that really allows the tequila to shine. Blending tequila, Agave Syrup and organic citric acid for a sharp and delicious flavour, this variation has become one of the most popular in the world.
- Blue Margarita - for an eye-catching Insta-worthy cocktail, the Blue Margarita is ideal. With the same delicious flavour, this cocktail swaps out the Cointreau and uses blue curaçao instead.
- Chocolate Margarita - those with a sweet tooth will love the incredibly indulgent Chocolate Margarita which mixes together the traditional ingredients with a chocolate liqueur for a rich, sweet treat.
- Spiced Cranberry Margarita - while the Margarita is traditionally a summer drink with it’s fresh, fruity flavours, the Spiced Cranberry Margarita is a popular variation that can be enjoyed in the winter. Combining tequila, Cointreau, cranberry juice, lime juice and a cinnamon-infused simple syrup and garnished with an orange slice and cinnamon stick, this is a perfect winter warming cocktail
Want to start crafting your own cocktails at home? Take a look at our innovative cocktail mixing hacks that everyone should know!
Or, check out all of the fabulous pre-mixed cocktails on our menu and build your own cocktail box to get your at-home bar started.