MixBooze

🍸 Margarita: The Cocktail World's Greatest Comeback Story

Author

mixBooze

Posted on November 8, 2024

Classic
Sour
Fruity
Summer
Aperitif
Shaken
On the Rocks
Tequila

Margarita cocktail in salt-rimmed glass,garnished with lime.

1. Introduction: When Tequila Met Its Citrus Soulmate

The Margarita reigns as the third most-consumed cocktail globally, blending tequila's fire, lime's zing, and orange liqueur's sweetness into a salty-sour-sweet symphony. Imagine if a Mexican fiesta crashed a beach party—this is the drink that'd be leading the conga line.

2. History: A Drama More Twisted Than a Telenovela

2.1 The Tearjerker Version (Bring Tissues)

In 1949, bartender Jean Durasa allegedly created it to mourn his girlfriend Margarita, who died in a hunting accident. The salt rim? His tears. The lime? His broken heart. Even Mexico's tourism board eats this story up.

2.2 The Plot Twist (Cue X-Files Theme)

Historians found a nearly identical 1937 recipe called Picador in a British cocktail book. Bonus drama: "Margarita" is Spanish for "daisy"—a cocktail category existing since the 1800s. Turns out, this might just be a tequila-spiked rebrand of an old classic.


3. Recipe: NASA-Level Precision

Ingredient Measurement Pro Tip
Silver tequila 2 oz (60ml) Go for Patrón or Don Julio
Cointreau 1 oz (30ml) No cheap triple sec—this isn't a frat party
Fresh lime juice 1 oz (30ml) Bottled juice = culinary crime
Agave syrup (optional) 0.5 oz (15ml) For sweet-toothed Yankees
Coarse salt For rimming Pink Himalayan salt for Instagram cred

4. Mixology 101: Foolproof Fiesta in a Glass

Step 1️⃣ Rim Job

  • Rub lime wedge on outer rim of chilled Margarita glass (or coupe glass,rocks glass)
  • Dip rim in salt plate at 30° angle → Instagram-ready crust achieved

Step 2️⃣ Shake It Like a Polaroid

  1. Fill shaker with ice
  2. Add in order: tequila → Cointreau → lime juice → syrup (prevents splash-back)
  3. Shake vigorously for 15 sec until frost forms

Step 3️⃣ Assemble the Masterpiece

  • Strain into prepared glass over fresh ice
  • Garnish with lime wheel/pepper slice
  • Lick the rim first for the full salty → tart → sweet → BOOM flavor rollercoaster

5. Pro Tip: Salt Rim Revolution

Traditionalists swear by hand-rimming, but modern bars use salt sprays for even coating. Next time, ask for a "deconstructed rim"—bartenders will either high-five you or roll their eyes. Win-win.