February 12, 2025

The Mighty Little Margarita

The origins of the margarita cocktail along with a recipe

Whenever friends invite us over for a backyard bbq, they make great efforts to take care of everyone’s needs – always quick to offer you beer or a generous pour of wine and maybe an appetizer. However, our neighbors also typically hand you an ice filled glass which is quickly filled by a pitcher of margaritas. Now of course beer and wine have their place but how fun is it to see a frothy pitcher of margaritas, poured into your ice filled glass on that warm summer day? Even the most disciplined drinkers among us will inevitably give in and “accept” a margarita. It’s a party in a pitcher! And then guilt strikes. As most of you may already know a margarita is made with tequila, a hard liquor. You may ask yourself Is it too early in the day? Is it too late in the day? Well this is entirely based on your particular situation. But if the window of opportunity says “yes”, then by all means dive in because you’re gonna love that chilled glass of margarita!

History

There are many stories about where the margarita all began but we’ll keep it short and sweet. The Margarita, is said to have been born as early as January of 1955. The story goes that a nightlife columnist from a suburban Los Angeles newspaper asked around and was told you should speak with John Durlesser, the head bartender of the famed Tail o’ the Cock and the dean of Los Angeles mixologists, and the story that he invented the drink “way back in 1937, when tequila first appeared here.” In 1966, Durlesser, still in the same job, elaborated for Bon Appetit magazine: it was actually 1936, and he “was asked to duplicate a drink a lady customer had once tasted in Mexico.” Her name was Margaret, and so he named the drink after her.

It has also been said that tequila is good for what ales you. Tequila is made from the blue agave plant which has many positive effects on the body including working as a probiotic, lower glucose levels, weight loss, cold prevention, dementia and possible prevention of colon cancer. While we won’t advocate tequila for any health benefits we thought it worth passing this info along so you can do your own research.

Tequila Songs

Perhaps unsurprising there are songs written about tequila…

Tequila” – is a 1958 Latin-inspired surf instrumental song recorded by American Rock and roll band The Champs. “Tequila” became a No. 1 hit on both the pop and R&B charts at the time of its release. The song was featured in the 1985 film Pee Wee’s Big Adventure when he charms an otherwise tough motor cycle gang in a dive bar by dancing to the song on a pool table.

Tequila Sunrise” – The Eagles released this song on their 1973 Desperado album. The song is about suffering from a broken heart and drinking tequila all night long and eventually watching the sun rise.

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” – is a song recorded by American country music artist Joe Nichols. It was released in August 2005 as the first single from Nichols’ album III. The song went double platinum selling over 2 million copies in the U.S.A. and reached the number one position on the country music chart.

Margaritaville” – yes the late-great singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett wrote and recorded this song which went platinum in 1977. Let it play on at your next margarita garden party.

Ingredients

• Lime or jalapeño, for optional rim and garnish
• Coarse salt, or granulated sugar, garnishing for the rim of each glass.
• 1 1/2 ounces tequila
• 1 ounce premium triple sec
• 3/4 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

Steps

The secret ingredient in your margarita is the triple sec and for your own good we wouldn’t recommend skipping it. For a finishing touch, wet the rim of each glass with a lime wedge, then dip or roll it in a small dish of salt, or sugar. This salted glass rim is the international sign for “a marg” or “margarita”.

Now pour the tequila, triple sec, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well. Strain into the prepared glass with or without fresh ice. Garnish with a slice of lime or a spicy slice of jalapeño and start singing “Tequila”!

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