Recipes for National Margarita Day
Discover the art of crafting the perfect margarita as we celebrate National Margarita Day on February 22nd! Dive into our favorite recipes and make this day unforgettable with a new cocktail creation.
Happy National Margarita Day!
In honor of National Margarita Day, I thought I’d share a little bit about one of my favorite cocktails – Margaritas!
When is National Margarita Day?
National Margarita Day, an unofficial holiday, was founded by real estate agent Todd McCalla in 2008. National Margarita Day is celebrated every year on February 22nd.
What is a Margarita
A margarita is part of the “sour” family of cocktails — which are made with any combination of liquor, citrus juice (typically lemon or lime), and a sweetener — the traditional margarita has been one of the most popular cocktails in the US since the mid-1900s.
Where Did Margaritas Come From?
As we gear up to celebrate National Margarita Day, it’s time to dive into the intriguing history and uncertain origins of this beloved cocktail. The birthplace of the margarita has a lot of theories, but no definitive answers.
One tale takes us to Carlos “Danny” Herrera’s Tijuana restaurant in 1938, where, legend has it, he whipped up the first margarita for an actress allergic to everything but tequila.
Picture this: he shakes together the classic tequila shot trio – tequila, lime, and salt – and voila, the margarita was born.
Another popular origin story is that the margarita was invented by the Dallas socialite Margaret “Margarita” Sames while on vacation with her friends in 1948. Tommy Hilton, of the eponymous hotel chain, was one of the guests who first tried this refreshing cocktail.
One last theory is that the margarita evolved from a popular drink from the ’30s and ’40s called the “daisy.”
The “daisy” is any combination of liquor, citrus juice, and grenadine served over ice. “Margarita” means “daisy” in Spanish, so some believe this origin story to be the most probable.
Regardless of which origin story holds the key to the margarita’s past, one thing is certain – margaritas have stood the test of time!
While the classic three-ingredient margarita still reigns supreme, it’s easy to find variations of this cocktail flavored in nearly any bar. As National Margarita Day approaches, let’s raise our glasses to this timeless recipe in all of its forms.
What is in a Margarita?
A classic margarita is made with just tequila, lime juice, and Triple Sec or Cointreau with a salted rim.
What Is Tequila?
Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the agave plant.
There are three main types of tequila, all of which have an earthy flavor:
- Blanco Tequila — A clear spirit with the purest flavor. It’s aged for a maximum of 60 days, making it more affordable.
- Reposado — “Rested” tequila is aged for at least two months in oak casks. Reposado tequila is typically lightly golden in color, with a mellower flavor than white tequilas.
- Añejo — “Old” tequila is aged for at least one year. This results in a darkly colored, richly flavored tequila with hints of butterscotch and caramel.
What Is Cointreau?
Cointreau (pronounced “kwan-troh”) is a colorless, orange liqueur. It’s a type of triple sec, but it’s stronger and smoother in flavor than name-brand Triple Sec.
Tools Needed to Make a Margarita
If your bar cart isn’t stocked yet, here are the tools I recommend having on hand to make delicious margaritas for National Margarita Day:
- Shaker — Margaritas are shaken, not stirred, so a good cocktail shaker (or a simple mason jar with a lid) is ideal for mixing the ingredients in.
- Jigger — A jigger is a standard cocktail measuring cup that is typically marked in ounces. Perfect for accurate cocktail mixing!
- Strainer for shaker — If you purchase a cocktail shaker, it most likely came with a strainer (or has one imbedded in the lid). Strainers are needed to strain the ice out before pouring the margarita into a glass for serving.
- Citrus juicer — Makes juicing limes for a margarita much easier.
- Cocktail muddler — If your margarita recipe has fresh fruit or herbs in it, you’ll want a muddler to prepare the recipe.
National Margarita Day Tips
- Use fresh lime juice — Fresh lime juice is far superior in flavor than bottled juice. However, you can certainly use bottled in a pinch if needed.
- Roll your limes — Rolling your lime on the counter before slicing and juicing is the best way to get the most lime juice out of of your limes.
- Buy high-quality tequilas — The best margarita is made with quality ingredients, so you definitely want to avoid buying the cheapest tequila (and liqueurs) if you can help it. A good quality tequila will make all the difference!
- Salt your rim — Rimming the glass of your margarita with salt isn’t just for decoration! The salt enhances the flavor of your cocktail by creating contrast between the flavors of the lime and tequila.
- Opt for ice cubes, not shaved or crushed ice – You don’t want to water down the margaritas!
Rimming a Glass for a Margarita
- Fill a saucer with your preferred ingredient for rimming your glass. For a salt rim, use a flaky salt variety, such as kosher or sea salt. Do NOT use iodized table salt. It has a much stronger, saltier flavor than kosher or sea salt. For a spicy margarita, we like a mix of salt and Tajín.
- Cut a small slice in a lime wedge and run the lime around the rim of your glasses.
- Dip the rim of the glasses in the saucer and twist around to coat the outer edge of the glass with salt.
I recommend wetting the rim of the glass with lime rather than water. Lime juice is stickier and will help the salt rim stick to the glass more easily.
When to Serve Margaritas
A margarita is great cocktail to serve year round! From hot summer days, to at home happy hour, Taco Tuesdays, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and of course — National Margarita Day! You really can’t go wrong with this cocktail!
National Margarita Day Recipes to Try
National Margarita Day is the perfect excuse to try a new recipe for this classic cocktail. Here are some of our favorite Margarita recipes:
Pineapple, cilantro, and lime juice infuse this Pineapple Margarita with refreshing summer flavors. Make a small batch or prepare in a pitcher for parties!
Homemade Watermelon Margaritas are made using fresh watermelon, reposado tequila, cointreau, and lime! There’s no blender needed to make this easy and refreshing summer cocktail recipe.
This Passion Fruit Margarita recipe uses Mezcal, an agave based spirit that is similar to tequila but with a smoky flavor. Sweet and sour from the passion fruit and lime juices and slightly smoky from the mezcal, making a unique take on a margarita.
Fresh strawberries, basil, and lime juice infuse this Strawberry Basil Margarita with bright summer flavors. Rim your glass with fresh basil infused salt for an extra punch of flavor!
This Lemon Margarita is a simple variation on the classic. Lemon juice cuts through tequila for a tangy cocktail with extra flavor dimension from a salted rim.
Cranberry Lime Margaritas are sweet, tart, and refreshing. Lime juice adds freshness and flavor, while Grand Marnier helps each sip slide down smoothly. These margaritas are perfect for serving at Thanksgiving or Christmas!
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