The story of Margarita
Around the origin of the Margarita, as with many cocktails, some myths entwine. It is said to have been first served in 1938 or 1939 by Mexican bartender Carlos Herrera and named after the showgirl of the time, Margarita de la Rosa.
However, there are justifiable doubts about the veracity of this story. As early as the 1800s, the so-called daisy drinks were known in the U.S., based on the concept of sours, and gained popularity by leaps and bounds in the 1920s.
Due to the prohibition prevailing in the USA, a real alcohol tourism to neighboring Mexico developed at that time. So if a U.S. citizen wanted to legally enjoy an alcoholic cocktail, they had to cross the border. Due to the popularity of Daisy drinks in the 1920s, it is very likely that a tourist at the time ordered a Tequila* Daisy. The Spanish translation of the English word Daisy is margarita.
The father of the margarita is considered to be the Sidecar – a classic cocktail with brandy*, orange liqueur and lime or lemon juice. Except for the base spirit used, the two cocktails are similar.
Difference from Frozen Margarita
Unlike the shaken version, the Frozen Margarita is made in a blender, not a shaker*. For this, add a few spoonfuls of crushed ice and mix the drink until it has a creamy consistency – similar to a slush ice.
Even better, use frozen fruits like strawberries, raspberries or watermelon pieces (without seeds) to turn your cocktail into a frozen fruit margarita. Especially in summer a perfect drink for your garden party.
Question of faith: With or without salt rim?
Many swear by the aroma-enhancing effect of the salt rim in the Margarita. But tastes are different and not everyone can do with salt on the edge of the glass. For this reason, in good bars you will see that only one side of the glass has a salt rim (half rimmed). So you can decide for yourself whether you want that extra kick or not.
If you decide to use a salt rim: Use lime or lemon juice rather than water to hold the salt to the glass, and attach it to the outside only.
The right glass
You can enjoy your margarita from pretty much any glass. However, it is classically and stylishly served in a cocktail bowl (coupette). Especially at parties, however, these bowls have a major disadvantage. Due to its bulbous shape, high center of gravity and low rim, the drink quickly spills out and lands on the bottom. For this reason, margaritas are increasingly served in old fashioned glasses.