Frozen or on the rocks, this tequila superstar deserves a celebration.
This Saturday (February 22) is National Margarita Day! But before you order up your favorite version of this beloved cocktail, take a moment and learn a bit about the mysterious history of Mexico’s (and, quite possibly the world’s) favorite frozen beverage.
One popular idea noted in Smithsonian Magazine is that a restaurant owner named Carlos Herrera invented the cocktail in the 1930s for a showgirl named Marjorie King, who was purported to have an allergy to most hard alcohol (aside from tequila).
Another origin story mentioned in Food & Wine is that the margarita is the brainchild of Margaret Sames, a Dallas socialite who crafted one at a party in Acapulco in 1948. This is the version of history that Alfred Cointreau (yes, like the liqueur) backs as the drink’s likely origin.
But in this National Geographic piece, cocktail historian David Wondrich thinks the drink may have evolved from a retro cocktail known as “the Daisy,” a mix of alcohol, citrus juice, and grenadine served over shaved ice. Popular during the 1930s and 40s, the Daisy eventually evolved into what we now call the margarita.
Regardless of how this near-perfect blend of quality tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and an iconic salt rim came to be, it’s clear that it’s here to stay.
So, enjoy National Margarita Day, whether you raise your frosty glass for happy hour at home or at a beachside café in Mexico!
