The History of the Margarita
The perfect balance of sour, sweet, salty, and boozy
Place of Origin
The Margarita is a classic tequila-based cocktail that originated in Mexico in the 1930s or 1940s. While the true origin is debated, many believe it was first created by a bartender in Tijuana or Ensenada. This refreshing drink quickly became synonymous with warm weather, sunshine, and celebration, evolving into one of the most popular cocktails in the world.
Typical Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- 1 oz Lime Juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 oz Orange Liqueur (Triple Sec or Cointreau)
- Salt (for rimming the glass)
- Lime Wheel (for garnish)
How to Make a Margarita
- Salt the rim of a chilled margarita glass by rubbing a lime wedge around it and dipping it in salt.
- Add tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur to a shaker with ice.
- Shake until well-chilled.
- Strain into the prepared glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
Typical Glassware
The Margarita is traditionally served in a margarita glass, a special glass with a wide rim for salt. It can also be served in a rocks glass with ice for a more casual version. The wide rim allows ample space for salt, enhancing the flavor with each sip.
Influence on Other Cocktails
The Margarita has influenced a range of tequila-based drinks like the Paloma and the Tequila Sunrise. Its simple, versatile structure also led to countless variations, including flavored Margaritas made with fruits like mango, strawberry, or watermelon.
Potential Riffs
- Spicy Margarita: Add jalapeño slices for a kick of heat.
- Frozen Margarita: Blend the ingredients with ice for a frozen twist.
- Flavored Margarita: Add fruits like mango, strawberry, or watermelon for a fruity variation.
Margarita Scores
Margarita — 5/19/2023
| Quester | Valentina's | Equal Latin | Dos Hermanos | Filibuster | La Esquinita | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timbo | 8.00 | 8.50 | 9.00 | 7.00 | 7.50 | 8.00 |
| Jimbo | 7.00 | 7.00 | 8.00 | 6.00 | 6.50 | 6.90 |
| Drunken Baller | 4.00 | 4.00 | ||||
| Eric | 8.00 | 8.50 | 8.75 | 6.20 | 7.86 | |
| Stephano | 7.50 | 8.00 | 8.50 | 6.50 | 7.00 | 7.50 |
| Jose | 6.50 | 7.30 | 7.90 | 6.00 | 7.20 | 6.98 |
| Angela | 7.50 | 9.50 | 8.50 | 8.50 | ||
| Kriston (Ninja) | 4.00 | 8.00 | 5.00 | 5.67 | ||
| Average | 7.42 | 7.54 | 8.38 | 5.75 | 6.88 | 7.25 |
Margarita — 8/29/2025
| Quester | Valentina's | Dos Hermanos | Filibuster | La Esquinita | Cheeky Martini | Legends | The Bus Stop | The Clipper | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christ | 7.50 | 9.00 | 7.10 | 6.30 | 6.70 | 6.30 | 7.20 | 5.50 | 6.95 |
| JB | 7.50 | 8.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 6.50 | 7.50 | 5.00 | 6.93 | |
| Timbo | 8.20 | 9.20 | 7.50 | 7.00 | 7.80 | 7.00 | 6.00 | 7.53 | |
| Jimbo | 7.10 | 7.50 | 7.10 | 6.50 | 6.00 | 5.50 | 6.70 | 6.63 | |
| Eric | 7.00 | 7.40 | 8.10 | 7.50 | 4.90 | 6.98 | |||
| Kriston (Ninja) | 7.50 | 8.00 | 7.50 | 5.00 | 7.00 | 6.50 | 6.00 | 6.79 | |
| Collin | 7.80 | 8.00 | 7.00 | 7.60 | |||||
| Autumn | 9.00 | 5.60 | 7.30 | ||||||
| Kylea | 8.80 | 9.40 | 7.40 | 7.20 | 7.70 | 8.10 | |||
| C3P-Rowe | 8.30 | 9.40 | 4.70 | 6.60 | 6.80 | 5.70 | 6.92 | ||
| Stephanie | 8.00 | 9.00 | 7.50 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 7.00 | 6.92 | ||
| Georgous | 7.00 | 6.00 | 7.80 | 6.80 | 6.90 | ||||
| Average | 7.77 | 8.65 | 7.02 | 6.57 | 6.48 | 6.91 | 6.04 | 5.50 | 7.08 |