Who doesn’t love a holiday where you celebrate with a cocktail?? No one!
-PJ Gach
One of the loveliest things in February is National Margarita Day. This year it falls on the 22nd--that's today. Who doesn’t love a national holiday that contains cocktails? We all do! Margaritas are made with tequila and other stuff, right? Yaass. There are other ingredients too…we’ll get to that in a moment---we do have lots of margarita cocktail recipes for you to try, but first…did you know how the Margarita came to be? David Wondrich, author and cocktail history expert explains it all.
According to Wondrich, the first time a Margarita cocktail recipe was included in an article was back in a 1953 Esquire mag. He claims that the article, “She’s from Mexico, Seňores,” included a recipe for the “Margarita Cocktail.” By the 60s Margaritas were found across the nation. Jimmy Buffet’s big hit “Margaritaville,” definitely cemented the cocktail into America’s consciousness. In my mind, today’s Margarita could be called a “Health Tonic.” After all it contains fresh lime juice (lots of Vitamin C). Tequila (comes from the Agave plant—so you have minerals, water and vitamins) and orange liqueur (more Vitamin C). See! It’s good for you.
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More tequila is consumed in the United States than in Mexico. In fact, the United States is the number one market for tequila. Doesn’t all this knowledge make you thirsty? I thought so. Read on great Margarita cocktail recipes to try today or any other day of the week.
High Plains Drifter Margarita, Charred Pineapple & Sage
Created by Shaun Gordon, Truman Tavern
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Patrón Silver
.5 oz. Patrón Citrónge Orange
2 Slices charred pineapple
.25 oz. Yuzu juice*
.5 oz. Fresh lime juice
.25 oz. Simple syrup
+ 4 Sage leaves, 2 for garnish
+ 2 dash Lime bitters
+ Slice charred pineapple for garnish
+ Chipotle salt rim**
*If Yuzu juice is not available, substitute 2 parts lemon juice: 1 part orange juice.
**Chipotle salt rim
.5 Cup salt + .75 tsp dried chipotle powder
Directions:
Char two pineapple slices and reserve one slice. Combine two pieces’ pineapple, 4 sage leaves and simple syrup in shaker and muddle. Add remaining liquid ingredients and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Double strain onto fresh ice in a chipotle-salt rimmed rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of charred pineapple and two sage leaves.
Té Verde Margarita
Ingredients:
1.25 part Montelobos Mezcal
.75-part Ancho Reyes Verde
.75-part strong green tea syrup
1 part fresh lime juice
5 mint leaves
Directions:
Shake, serve over ice in a rocks glass, garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel.
Margaritas made with beer, prickly pears, and rose wine after the jump.
Prickly Pink Margarita
Ingredients:
1 part Sauza Signature Blue Silver
½ part DeKuyper Triple Sec
½ part prickly pear syrup
1 part limeade
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass and serve. Garnish with a prickly pear slice and lime wedge (optional).
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All American Beer-A-Rita
Ingredients:
4 oz. Be Mixed Margarita
1 bottle of your favorite light beer
Directions:
Chill beer and bottle of Be Mixed. Combine beer and Be Mixed in a tall glass.
Tiki Rita, Grapefruit & Tiki Spices
Created by Mindy Kucan of Portland, Oregon, USA
Ingredients:
2 oz. Patrón Reposado
.5 oz. Patrón Citrónge Orange
.5 oz. Fresh lime juice
.5 oz. Fresh grapefruit juice
.25 oz. Vanilla syrup
+ Splash Allspice dram
+ Grated nutmeg for garnish
+ Lime wheel and cloves for garnish
+ Hawaiian sea salt rim
Directions:
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill.Strain onto fresh ice in a Tiki glass that has been rimmed with Hawaiian sea salt. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg and a lime wheel pierced with three cloves and grated nutmeg.
Berries Margarita
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. Cabrito Reposado
1.25 oz. Owls Brew “Witches Brew”
.5 oz. Suze Apertif
.5 oz. Lime Juice
.25 oz. Agave Nectar
Homemade Berry Shrub Floater (1tsp)
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a shaker and stir until mix. Serve in a rocks glass and garnish with mixed berries
Santera Margarita
Ingredients:
2 parts Santera Blanco Tequila
3/4 parts Fresh Lemon and Lime juice
3/4 parts Agave Syrup
Spicy salt rim, optional
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lime wheel.
Frosé Margarita
Ingredients:
2 parts Montelobos mezcal
1 oz. rosé wine
.75 parts fresh lime juice
1 part Jamaica concentrate syrup (hibiscus)
2-3 medium strawberries
Directions:
Combine all and blend with 1 1/2 cups ice. Garnish with a half strawberry, lime wheel, and/or grated Mexican chocolate on top.