The Margarita: A Lime and Tequila Mixed Mystery

The Margarita: A Lime and Tequila Mixed MysteryA salty rim with crushed ice, some freshly squeezed lime juice, orange liqueur and your favorite tequila. Ahhh, yes... the margarita! A combination of mouth-watering flavors that are as timeless as its origin. This classic beverage has many versions of the story pertaining to how it was created and we’ve collected a few of them to share with you on this Cinco de Mayo.

The most common one hails from Rancho la Gloria in Tijuana, Mexico and revolves around a desperate bartender trying to impress the delicate palate of a señorita named Marjorie King. It’s said that the only alcohol Ms. King could tolerate was tequila... even though she despised the flavor.

Eager to please the object of his affection, the bartender, Mr. Danny Herrera, tirelessly experimented with multiple tequila combinations in hopes of creating something that Marjorie would not only approve, but also savor. Eventually, Herrera created a perfect mix of tequila with a balanced sweet and sour taste that even Marjorie King would applaud. There’s no word as to whether or not the two lived happily ever after. 

As for our second theory, we travel into the heart of the Lone Star State where we find Dallas socialite Margarita Sames. In this version it is said that Sames threw a lavish party for her elite group of friends and created the recipe after they challenged her to make a new cocktail. It is said that she credited her friends with helping her create the popular concoction... and, obviously, she named it after herself. How conceited!

Last, but not least, we travel south of the border once again to The Kentucky Club in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The story varies but the basic idea is that a female patron requested the bartender create a drink for her. The result? You guessed it... a tangy treat consisting mostly of limes topped with salt and tequila.

While the last version may be our favorite considering its proximity to our stomping grounds, the true birthplace of the margarita may forever remain a mystery. What is a fact, though, is the impact its had domestically as Americans consume approximately 185,000 margaritas per HOUR! Wow. While tasty, that sure does have the potential for a whole lot of bad decisions.

We may not have discovered the true inventor during this mission but one of our very own DID whip up her own delectable version - The Mango Ginger Margarita! Check out the video and recipe for Sarah’s creation below then head out for the ingredients to make a few for yourself today. You know we did! ¡Salud!

Mango Ginger Margarita Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 slices of peeled ginger
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 jigger (1.5 oz) of silver tequila
  • 1 jigger (1.5 oz) mango nectar
  • 1/2 jigger (1 oz) fresh lime juice
  • a splash of triple sec (or other orange liqueur like Grand Marnier)
  • ice
  • glass rimmed with chile salt
  • mango slice for garnish

Directions:

Muddle 2 thin slices of peeled fresh ginger with 1 teaspoon of sugar place in a cocktail shaker. Add 1 jigger of tequila, 1 jigger of mango nectar, 1/2 jigger fresh lime juice, a splash of triple sec and ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a mango slice and serve. Or put it all in a blender for a frozen treat!

¡Buen provecho!

Recipe by Sarah Griffin, Write-up by  Chris Diaz, Video by Will Seyffert

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