The Margarita Cocktail: History and Curiosities
The Margarita cocktail is one of the most popular cocktails in the world and can be found in any renowned cocktail bar. In today’s article, we’ll uncover the famous Margarita cocktail and some of its most notable curiosities.
Remember that…
Cocktails are mixes of different beverages or ingredients that blend into a single substance, usually served with soft drinks or alcohol. However, there are also non-alcoholic variations available.
What You Should Know About the Margarita Cocktail
The Margarita cocktail is a spirit-based drink that has been served in many restaurants and bars as a classic cocktail since 1942. It’s full of tones, exotic combinations, and varied flavours. Like many drinks on our menu, its origins are surrounded by anecdotes and stories about its creation and provenance.
If it’s your first time hearing about this cocktail, you might be interested to know that it has a Mexican origin and is typically made with tequila and lime liqueur.
The Drink That Aimed to Impress the Ladies
Although there are many versions of the origins of this drink, they all agree that the bartender’s primary goal was to delight a lady named Margarita, Marjorie, or Margaret with a refreshing and visually appealing drink.
- First version: This version tells the story of Carlos Herrera, a bartender from Tijuana who invented this drink for the actress Marjorie King. She was allergic to everything except tequila, so Herrera improvised this beverage. Marjorie loved it, and the bartender decided to name it in her honour.
- Second version: This version introduces a Mexican bartender named Carlos Orozco, who was experimenting with new drinks. One day, a woman of striking beauty caught his attention as she entered his bar. He offered her one of his creations, and she was delighted by the taste. When she asked the name of the drink, he asked for her name. Her name was Margarita Henkel, and thus, the Margarita cocktail was born.
The Official Margarita Day
February 22nd is the International Margarita Day. This popular cocktail earned its own day due to its easy preparation and great taste, capturing the hearts of many. According to sources in the cocktail world, it represents 18% of global cocktail sales. This success is attributed to three main reasons:
- The United States is its biggest importer: North America imports large quantities of Mexican tequila, backed by data from the American union.
- The favourite drink in the USA: In a 2006 Nielsen survey, the Margarita was identified as the favourite drink of Americans.
- Todd McCalla: This entrepreneur and Margarita enthusiast proposed February 22nd as the official day to toast with this cocktail.
A Record to Remember
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas holds the record for creating the world’s largest Margarita. Over 60 people crafted a mix of more than 32,000 litres for its customers.
That’s it for our article on 4 Curiosities You Didn’t Know About the Margarita Cocktail. We hope you enjoyed it.
See you in the next post!