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This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (February 2008) |
| This drink is designated as an IBA Official Cocktail |
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| Margarita | |
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| Type: | Mixed drink |
| Primary alcohol by volume: | |
| Served: | "On the rocks"; poured over ice |
| Standard garnish: | salt rimmed glass, lime slice |
| Standard drinkware: |
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| IBA specified ingredients†: | |
| Preparation: | Rub the rim of the glass with the lime slice to make the salt stick to it. Shake the other ingredients with ice, then carefully pour into the glass (taking care not to dislodge any salt). Garnish and serve over ice. |
| †Margarita recipe at International Bartenders Association | |
The Margarita is one of the most common tequila-based cocktails, made with tequila mixed with triple sec and lime or lemon juice, often served with salt on the glass rim.
Margarita is the Latin word for pearl and the Spanish word for daisy.
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Variations
Common ratios for a margarita are
- 2:1:1 = 6:3:3 (50% tequila, 25% Triple Sec, 25% fresh lime or lemon juice)
- 3:2:1 = 6:4:2 (50% tequila, 33% Triple Sec, 17% fresh lime or lemon juice)
- 3:1:1 = 6:2:2 (60% tequila, 20% Triple Sec, 20% fresh lime or lemon juice)
- 1:1:1 = 6:6:6 (33% tequila, 33% Triple Sec, 33% fresh lime or lemon juice)
although the IBA (IBA Official list of Cocktails) standard is
- 7:4:3 (7 parts tequila, 4 parts Triple Sec, 3 parts fresh lime or lemon juice)
The drink is usually served shaken with ice , on the rocks, or blended with ice (the "frozen margarita"). All three methods are frequently served with salt on the rim of the glass. Some bartenders specializing in tequila have the opinion that salt hides the flavor of bad Margaritas made with inferior tequilas. For people who insist on a salt rim, the bartender typically only coats half the glass or offers a straw, so that they can still taste the drink without being obscured by the salt's taste.citation needed
While the most common margaritas contain tequila, orange liqueur, lime or lemon juice, and sometimes an additional sweetener, such as simple syrup, many variations are becoming more and more common. Bottled lime juice (which contains sugar) is another method used to add sweetness.
Other than triple sec, other types of orange-flavored liqueur are sometimes used, such as Patrón Citrónge, Cointreau, blue curaçao yielding the blue margarita (JC). In Mexico an orange liqueur called Controy is often used. The "grand", "royal", or "Cadillac" margarita often contains Grand Marnier or Gran Gala. Such higher quality or "top shelf" margaritas will usually use a better grade of tequila as well. Often, when sweeter fruit juices or freshly muddled fruits are added to the margarita, the amount of orange-flavored liqueur is often reduced or it is eliminated entirely. In addition to orange-flavored liqueurs, secondary liqueurs may occasionally be added to the cocktail, including black raspberry-flavored Chambord.
Many consider fresh squeezed lime juice the key ingredient, but fresh-squeezed lemon juice may be used and, because lemons are more consistent and sweet, is often less bitter. The most common lime in the U.S. are the thick skinned Persian limes. However, margaritas in Mexico are generally made with Mexican limes (Key limes). These are small, thin skinned limes and have a more tart and an often bitter flavor compared to Persian limes. Meyer lemons may be used for a sweeter taste as well.
Since some bartenders and margarita experts consider froth a good thing in margaritas, some people will add egg whites to a blended (but non-frozen) margarita in order to add more frothinesscitation needed.
Alternate fruit juice mixtures can also be used in a margarita. When the word "margarita" is used by itself, it typically refers to the lime or lemon juice margarita. But when other juices are used, the fruits are typically added as adjectives in the name, with lime juice or lemon juice added like a condiment (and a wedge of lime often added to the glass). Examples of popular combinations are:
- Raspberry margarita, with lime juice
- Strawberry or peach margarita, with lemon juice
- Mango margarita, with lime juice
History
Origin of the Margarita
There are many stories about who invented the margarita and why. The following are perhaps the most commonly repeated tales of the creator of the margarita cocktail.
- Danny Negrete, 1936 With help of Rob Garcia
- Ratios: 1:1:1 = 6:6:6 (33% tequila, 33% Triple Sec, 33% fresh lime juice).
- According to Salvador Negrete, the son of Daniel Negrete, the family story goes that Daniel opened a bar at the Garci Crispo hotel with his brother, David. The day before David's marriage, Daniel presented the margarita as a wedding present to Margarita, his sister-in-law.
- It was a combination of one-third Triple Sec, one-third tequila and one-third squeezed Mexican lime juice. The drink was not blended and was served with hand-crushed ice. [1]
- Francisco "Pancho" Morales, 4th of July, 1942
- A bartender, Pancho Morales invented the margarita on July 4, 1942, at a Juárez, Mexico bar named Tommy's Place. Supposedly, a woman requested a Magnolia (brandy, Cointreau, and an egg yolk topped with Champagne). Morales was a little fuzzy on the recipe; he improvised and his ersatz creation was a big hit. [2]
- Carlos "Danny" Herrera, 1938
- Ratios: 3:2:1 = 6:4:2 (50% tequila, 33% Triple Sec, 17% fresh lime juice).
- Carlos "Danny" Herrera mixed a jigger of white tequila with lemon juice and Triple Sec, creating a smooth and salty concoction he named "margarita", in October/November of 1938citation needed
- The bar was Rancho La Gloria, midway on the old road that connected Tijuana with Rosarito Beach. A showgirl and sometime actress who called herself Marjorie King/Rita De La Rosa (she regularly played piano in and around San Diego at the Hotel Del Coronado and Del Mar, just to name a few) was one of the customers. She was allergic to all hard liquor, except for tequila, but she didn't like to drink it straight or even with a lemon and saltcitation needed.
- Mr. Herrera started experimenting and came up with a concoction that was three parts white tequila, two parts Cointreau and one part fresh lemon juice. He added shaved ice and blended the mixture with a hand shaker.
- Margaret Sames, December 1948
- Ratios: 2:1:1 = 4:2:2 (50% tequila, 25% Triple Sec, 25% fresh lime juice).
- Sames, who created the drink at her Acapulco bar, gave the reason of being "close with a lot of famous hotel and restaurant people" in introducing the margarita. [3]
- Sames used one part Cointreau, two parts tequila and one part lime juice for her margarita. Knowing that most people drank tequila preceded by a lick of salt, she chose to garnish her cocktail with a rim of coarse salt.
- Sames moved to El Paso, TX in 1958 where she was well known for her lavish parties. In 1982 she appeared on NBC's Today show demonstrating the proper way to make a margarita.
- Santos Cruz, 1948
- According to the promotional flyer for the legendary Balinese Room in Galveston, Texas, head bartender Santos Cruz created the Margarita for singer Peggy (Margaret) Lee in 1948.
- The Balinese Room was opened in 1941 and was Texas's finest nightclub with A/C, casino gambling, superb food and drinks, and stellar entertainment until the Texas Rangers finally shut it down in 1957.
- Enrique Bastate Gutierrez, early 1940s
- Gutierrez, who lived in Tijuana, Mexico, boasted to have created the Margarita as a homage to actress Rita Hayworth, whose real name was Margarita Cansino.
- Other versions of the story claim the Margarita was indeed named after the actress, but in the 1930s, before she adopted her screen name. As a teenager, Margarita Cansino worked as a dancer at the Foreign Club, in Tijuana, where she supposedly inspired a bartender.
Popularity
The margarita cocktail was the "Drink of the Month" in Esquire magazine, December 1953, pg. 76: [4]
- 1 ounce tequila
- Dash of Triple Sec
- Juice of 1/2 lime or lemon
- Pour over crushed ice, stir. Rub the rim of a stem glass with rind of lemon or lime, spin in salt—pour, and sip.
First frozen margarita machine mix
The first frozen margarita machine mix was invented in 1971 for Dallas restaurant Marianos by chemist John Hogan. He was also recognized by the Smithsonian as the inventor of the frozen margarita machine. Mr. Hogan realized that pure cane sugar was the secret to obtaining a solution that would be consistent and enjoyable for the masses.[5]
Margarita Thursday
Margarita Thursday is a spin-off of the more traditional "Thirsty Thursday" after work drinking social event. The host typically provides fresh limes and has the guests participate in the juicing and mixing of the drinks.
See also
References
- ^ William K. Lombardo. "The margarita chronicles: Did Danny do it?". Retrieved on 12 Aug, 2006.
- ^ Brad Cooper (October 1974). "The Man Who Invented the Margarita". Texas Monthly.
- ^ "{{{title}}}" (June 1994). Today's Columbus Woman.
- ^ Barry Popik. "Texas, The Lone Star State: Margarita (cocktail)". Retrieved on 12 Aug, 2006.
- ^ Houston - News - ¡Viva la Margarita!
External links
