| Born and raised in Mexico, the margarita's personality
reflects the flavor of its native land. Its fate has also been inextricably
bound with tequila, a spirit that until recently was known as a coarse
and fiery spirit that needed to be combined with fruit juice and sugar
in order to be palatable. Tequila has become respectable — and
not just in the sunny states that border Mexico, but all over the world.
One reason for the margarita's ascent to stardom is
that it is an exceptionally versatile cocktail. It lends itself to several
methods of preparation, and variations in fruit flavorings. It blends
easily with liqueurs, and marries well with the taste of different types
of ingredients.
HISTORY: FACT OR FOLKLORE?
In 1948 Margarita Sames created this drink in Acapulco,
Mexico using her two favorite spirits; Cointreau and tequila. Legend
says her husband gave the drink its name by presenting his wife with
glassware etched with " Margarita".
Another popular myth states that restaurant owner
Danny Herrera, of the Rancho La Gloria near Tijuana, Mexico, mixed and
named this cocktail specially for American actress Marjorie King, since
she was allergic to every spirit except tequila. Margarita is Mexican
for Marjorie.
There are variations, both regarding its origins and
the proportions. However, the manufacturers of Cointreau designated 1998
as the official 50th anniversary of the invention of the Margarita.
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barFACT
In 1969, an estimated 45 million margaritas were sold in the United States. By 2000, that number had increased to 800 million.
The margarita's phenomenal popularity has made it the country's most frequently requested cocktail during warm weather, and second only to the martini when there's a chill in the air. |
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KEYS TO
A MAGNIFICENT MARGARITA
Tequila, a product made from Mexico's blue
agave plant, is the centerpiece of this cocktail. The truest to the blue
agave flavor is the silver, un-aged tequila which we recommend for all
margaritas, not because of its lower cost, but for its robust and vibrant
character. Silver tequilas are exuberant and add a vitality to the margarita
that the more reserved, aged tequilas don't quite manage.
When preparing a premium margarita, Cointreau is the consensus choice
as an orange liqueur. The advantage using Cointreau in a premium margarita
is that the liqueur will augment the cocktail's bouquet and taste profile,
but won't alter its natural color.
For margarita aficionados, several other liqueurs have risen above
and beyond the call to duty. Proven margarita performers include the
French
black raspberry liqueur, Chambord; the Japanese honeydew liqueur, Midori;
the Italian almond liqueur, Disaronno Amaretto; and Damiana, a Mexican
liqueur made from the damiana plant. Another often relied upon cordial
is blue Curaçao, an orange-flavored liqueur slightly sweeter
than triple sec and beloved for its luminous blue color.
In "The Original Guide To Margaritas and Tequila,"
author Robert Plotkin suggests two additions to a Margarita:
1. A splash of orange juice and
2. 1/2 oz Rose's sweetened lime juice.
When mixing at home, orange juice is the perfect fix for the sometimes
too-tart Margarita and the sweetened lime juice adds another dimension
of citrus fruit flavor.
WAYS TO ENJOY A MARGARITA
Straight
Up: Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake 20-30
times then strain into chilled martini or margarita glass. Garnish
with lime wheel.
How to SHAKE A DRINK »
On The Rocks: Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker and strain
into martini or margarita glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon
wheel.
How
to STIR A DRINK »
Frozen: Unless instructed, combine ingredients in blender
with 1 cup of ice. Pour into glass and serve with lime wedge.
How
to BLEND A DRINK »
Frozen Fruit Margaritas
Armed with an electric
blender, you can puree any fresh fruit to enhance the flavor of your
margaritas. Prickly pear marmalade, canned Bartlett pears, applesauce,
blueberries, prickly pear juice, mangoes, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries,
bananas and pomegranates are just a few of the ingredients you can
use. The secret, when possible, is to use fresh fruit and a liqueur to
match the fruit. For example, raspberries with raspberry liqueur, or bananas
and banana liqueur.
TO SALT OR NOT TO SALT
Many people find that a salt rim enhances the flavor of the Margarita.
To salt glasses, rub the rim of the glass with lime or lemon then gently
dip into saucer laced with kosher or fine sea salt. Remember to salt
the rim before it is filled with ice or ingredients.
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Learn
more about Tequila - the spirit of the agave » 
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