How to Make a Margarita 101

Many bars serve Margaritas on the rocks or frozen.

While the origins of the first Margarita continue to be debated, the most widely accepted claim is that of Margaret "Margarita" Sames, a Dallas socialite who claims to have created the drink in 1948 when she was on vacation in Mexico. She simply wanted to try something new, she said, and combined the most available liquor in Mexico, tequila, and a French orange-flavored liqueur she enjoyed, Cointreau. After much experimentation, the classic Margarita was born. To make a great-tasting original margarita, use premium tequila and high quality orange liqueur.

Things You'll Need

• 1 oz premium tequila, silver
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• Fresh lime juice, to taste
• Kosher salt
• Lime wedge

Instructions

1. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a cocktail glass.

2. Place kosher salt on a paper napkin in an area wider than the mouth of the glass.

3. Press the rim of the glass firmly into the salt to coat it.

4. Combine the tequila, orange liqueur and freshly squeezed lime juice, to your taste, in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

5. Shake the mixture well and pour into the cocktail glass rimmed with salt. Garnish with the lime wedge and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• According to Margarita Sames, silver tequila was originally used for her Margaritas, not the gold tequila that is popularly used.

References

• The Nibble:The Margarita Cocktail
• Smithsonian Magazine; The History of the Margarita; Lisa Bramen; May 2009

Resources

• What's Cooking America: Lime Margaritas
• Margarita Texas: Margarita Recipes